Down to the wire

Bismarck Century found a flaw in the Dickinson High volleyball team's gameplan and exploited it for an all-out comeback.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, their come-from-behind effort came a little too late in the match to change the outcome.

Behind the force of seniors Katelyn Steffan and Paige Nash, the Class A defending state champion Midgets held on for a 25-15, 25-16, 21-25, 21-25, 15-11 victory and remained unbeaten in their West Region regular-season opener on Thursday night at Dickinson High School's gymnasium.

Nash finished with 24 kills while Steffan had 21 kills and 10 blocks to lead the Midgets (8-0, 1-0 West Region).

"We didn't play to our capablities," Steffan said. "I think we played really scared ... We kind of let off."

Dickinson coach Jay Schobinger was disappointed with his team's letdowns in Games 3 and 4.

"We let the momentum get away and Century took it and went with it," Schobinger said. "That's the goofy part about this game. Every game starts over 0-0."

Century's front line exploited the chances it had when Steffan, who stands 6-foot-4, and the 6-foot Nash either went to the back row or took a rest on the bench.

"Our level of play rose throughout the match and that's encouraging," Century coach Jeni Walsh said.

The Midgets breezed through the first two games en route to a 2-0 match lead.

However, Century took advantage of Dickinson errors and the Midgets' lack of height up front to climb back into the match in Game 3 and even things up in Game 4.

Dana Asplund led the Patriots with 16 kills. Courtney Fettig had 14 kills, six aces and five digs. Brittany Jossert had 13 kills and 12 digs in her first West Region start.

"She (Jossert) has been waiting in the wings a long time to showcase her skills and we really saw them tonight," Walsh said.

Jossert, Asplund and Fettig paced Century through Games 3 and 4 and built enough momentum so the Patriots could beat the Midgets to the ball even when Nash and Steffan were up front.

"They do take advantage of it because we don't have any big blocks then," Steffan said.

Schobinger said the game was a great learning experience and the team was able to find out their flaws early before the season gets rolling.

"We struggle a little bit early in the season defensively," he said. "But, it'll come."