Early lulls not enough to stop Titans
Despite some hiccups in the first set, the Dickinson Trinity volleyball team limited its miscues to breeze past Bowman County on Thursday. Trinity defeated the Bulldogs 25-21, 25-15, 25-14 on Thursday at the Knights of Columbus Activities Center.By: Royal McGregor, The Dickinson Press
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Despite some hiccups in the first set, the Dickinson Trinity volleyball team limited its miscues to breeze past Bowman County on Thursday.
Trinity defeated the Bulldogs 25-21, 25-15, 25-14 on Thursday at the Knights of Columbus Activities Center.
“It’s kind of been our story the last few games,” Trinity head coach Rayma Braaten said. “We just have the low start and then we start warming up. … The girls get nervous and shaky in the beginning.”
The Titans got out to a 12-5 start in the first set due to some mental mistakes by Bowman County. Sam Gordon, who had 21 assists and three aces, helped Trinity to a 17-10 lead.
“We’ve been really working on getting fired up, staying positive and not getting down on ourselves,” Gordon said.
Trinity made some miscues on offense and defense that allowed the Bulldogs to capitalize. Bowman County forced Trinity to take a timeout with the Titans leading 24-21.
“We started a new offense this week,” Bowman County head coach Jettie Swanson said. “We were a little timid and trying to figure things out at the beginning.”
The timeout worked to the Titans’ advantage as a hitting error by Bowman County’s Kayla Palczewski gave Trinity the first set.
Palczewski led Bowman County with five kills and three blocks.
With momentum on Trinity’s side, the Titans got out to a 6-1 lead in the second set. That edge quickly disappeared as the Bulldogs knotted the score at 6-6.
After the run by Bowman County, Trinity flipped the switch and went on another 6-1 run. The Titans ripped through, taking 13 of the next 21 points. Trinity went on a 8-3 run to close out the set.
The final set was a reenactment of the second. With the teams tied 5-5, the Titans went on a 7-2 run to take a 12-7 lead. Trinity finished off the set with a 13-7 run.
Gordon was able to spread the ball around.
Aly Schieno led the Titans with 14 kills. Mariah Quintus tallied five kills, while Kendra Mortensen and Nikki Grinsteinner each had four.
“We’ve been together for a long time, so the chemistry is already there,” Gordon said. “We are just working on some quick things.”
Though Bowman County wasn’t pleased with the loss, Swanson said the effort was there.
“I was definitely disappointed with the outcome,” Swanson said. “But not with how we played.”
Trinity has won three straight matches at home and Braaten is hoping this gives the Titans confidence for Saturday at the Valley City Invitational.
“I think we have a great team and I think we can do a lot,” she said. “I think this is giving the girls the confidence to realize that they do have what it takes to make it.”
Nonetheless, the real key will be winning on the road.
“I want to see how we pull through when we go away,” Braaten said. “I can’t say right now, I just want to see it.”
BC 21 15 14 — 0
Trinity 25 25 25 — 3
Kills: BC, Kayla Palczewski 5, Nicole Germann 4, Macy Smyle 3. T, Aly Schieno 14, Mariah Quintus 5, Kendra Mortensen 4, Nikki Grinsteinner 4.
Blocks: BC, Palczewski 3, Smyle 1. T, Grinsteinner 3, Andrea Jirges 2, Kelbie Ficek 1.
Aces: BC, Jessica Hill 1, Erika Olson 1, Smyle 1. T, Sam Gordon 3, Jirges 1, Quintus 1, Grinsteinner 1.
Digs: BC, Germann 8, Paige Miller 5, Kaitlyn Dix 5. T, Schieno 4, Brandi Ouellette 2, Grinsteinner 2.
Assists: BC, Miller 3, Hill 1. T, Gordon 21.
Records: Trinity 6-4. BC 1-4.
Tags: dickinson trinity, sports, volleyball, preps
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