Midgets sweep Minot High in West Region match

• Rachel Schroeder

Press Photo by Royal McGregor Dickinson High senior Rachel Schroeder waits to block an attack by Minot High senior Alex Bolinske during a West Region volleyball match Saturday at the DHS gymnasium.

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Confidence is important.

The Dickinson High volleyball team gained a big boost of confidence after defeating defending West Region champions Bismarck Century 3-2 on Thursday.

“That was absolutely huge,” Dickinson senior middle hitter Rachel Schroeder said. “I don’t remember the last we beat Century in their home court.”

That momentous win translated to Saturday as the Midgets swept West Region opponent Minot 25-18, 25-15, 25-11 at DHS gymnasium.

“It was a big win against Century, but we knew we had to come out here and play hard,” said Dickinson senior Taylor Cooper, who had four kills and two aces. “We played very well and we communicated with each other very well.”

In two home matches this season, Dickinson (7-3, 3-0 West) has yet to yield a set to its opponents.

“It’s always nice to play at home,” Schroeder said. “Everyone who’s here is going to accept us no matter if you are playing good or bad.”

Dickinson head coach Jay Schobinger said at times when everything is going one way, it’s important to maintain the same level of concentration.

“Minot struggled with some ball control and gave us a lot of easy opportunities,” he said. “The big part was trying to stay focused. We were concentrating on fundamentals and working on the little things that make you better.”

Dickinson had a hot start in the first set, putting Minot in a 9-1 deficit after a Cooper ace. The Midgets maintained the advantage throughout the entire set.

Ali Moody, who is normally a setter, has started to slide into an outside hitter more and more. The Dickinson senior didn’t disappoint, knocking down two of the final three points including the game-winner to win set one.

It was the closest end result Minot (4-8, 0-4 West) would see all day.

Head coach Ellen Jebe said their offensive attack wasn’t up to par, but at some point everything is going to come together. Alex Bolinske led the Majettes with eight kills, followed by Brooke Suko with four and Morgan Milbrath with three.

“It’s nice a lot of options,” Jebe said. “We’ve just got to make sure, we can get the ball to them. We’ve had kind of a rough start to the season, but I don’t have any doubt that someday the lights going to come on.”

Just like in the home opener against Mandan, the Midgets trailed just once to start the second set. Dickinson ended on a 6-2 run to win 25-15.

The Midgets didn’t want Minot to make a comeback and Moody made sure of it. The final set started and ended with a Moody ace.

“Ali does a great job at the line,” Schroeder said. “She knows where the struggling players are and she’ll go after them right away.”

Grove finished with nine kills, while Moody added eight kills, six aces and 15 assists.

“It’s very comforting to know that we have the core group,” Schobinger said. “Then we have a lot of other kids that are sharing time. When they get their opportunities, they go in and play well.”

Dickinson travels to play Bismarck St. Mary’s at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Cooper knows the Midgets have a big week in front of them as they host Jamestown at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

“We have two big matches and now we’re just going to prepare for that,” she said.

Minot 18 15 11 — 0

Dickinson 25 25 25 — 3

Kills: M, Alex Bolinske 8, Brooke Suko 4, Morgan Milbrath 3. D, Abby Grove 9, Ali Moody 8, Taylor Cooper 4.

Blocks: M, Bolinske 2, Milbrath 1. D, Rachel Schroeder 2, Cooper 1, Sydney Gangl 1.

Aces: D, Moody 6, Jess Priebe 2, Mackee Hoffmann 2, Cooper 2.

Digs: M, Jess Kongelf 22, Milbrath 18, Sophie Bengson 12. D, Priebe 13, Moody 7, Madison Schobinger 4.

Assists: M, Ashely Gathman 9,Emily Bengson 7. D, Moody 15, Schobinger 7.

Records: M 4-8, 0-4 West. D 7-3, 3-0 West.

Tags: dickinson midgets, minot majettes, sports, volleyball, preps