After dropping the first two sets of the match, the Dell Rapids Quarrier volleyball team rallied for three straight set wins to defeat the Lennox Orioles on Thursday, September 30th.
Four of the five sets could have been won by either team. The opening set was back-and-forth over the first half. The two teams were tied multiple times, including at 13-13. The Quarriers built a three point lead at 16-13, 18-15, and then again 21-18, but Lennox outscored Dell Rapids 7-1 to win the opening set 25-22.
Lennox used that momentum to build a 15-9 lead through the midway point of the second set. The Quarriers chipped away at the lead and eventually tied the set at 23-23. Dell Rapids took the lead 24-23, but Lennox tied the score 24-24. After another one-point lead for Dell Rapids at 25-24, the Orioles scored the final three points for a 27-25 win and a 2-0 match lead.
Momentum then shifted to Dell Rapids in the third set. The Quarriers jumped out to a 9-1 lead and never looked back. Dell Rapids kept rolling in the third set and won 25-7. Dell Rapids kept the run going into the fourth set building an early 8-2 lead. Lennox was able to cut the Dell Rapids lead to a single point a couple of times in the fourth set, but the Quarriers never lost the lead. Dell Rapids won the fourth set 25-19 to force a fifth set.
Lennox delivered the first blow in the fifth set getting an early 4-1 lead. Dell Rapids got within a point at 7-6 and 9-8, but both times the Orioles were able to increase the lead. It wasn’t until Dell Rapids pulled within a point at 11-10 that momentum shifted back to the Quarriers. Dell Rapids tied the score at 11-11, and then finished the match on a 4-1 run for the 15-12 win.
Three Quarriers had double digit kills on the night. JoJo Henry had 16 kills, and Sophi Randall and Kenzie Garry both had 10 kills. Henry also had a team-high four ace serves. Garry had three ace serves, and Lauryn Kloth and Riley Hill both had two. Kloth finished with seven blocks up front with Hill and Randall both finishing with five blocks. Four players had double digit digs. Emma Molskness had a team-high 22 digs. Lexi Ingalls finished with 19, Henry had 17, and Hill added 11 digs. Hill also led the team with 31 set assists, and Randall had 17.
Dell Rapids (12-8) will travel to Dakota Valley High School on Monday, October 4th, and then host Vermillion on Tuesday, October 5th.