Midgets slam Saints

The Dickinson High volleyball team proved it doesn't always need Katelyn Steffan and Paige Nash if it wants to dominate matches.

Steffan and Nash each sat out a game in the Midgets' 25-9, 25-7, 30-28 victory over Bismarck St. Mary's in a West Region match on Thursday at Dickinson High School gymnasium.

"It shows that even if we don't have them, we can still bring each other up and work hard, no matter what," Dickinson senior Kellie Marsh said.

Dickinson rolled through the first game thanks to big hitting from both Steffan and Nash. However, Nash sat out Game 2 and much of Game 3. Steffan, meanwhile, played much of Game 2 and played sparingly as a setter and in the back row in Game 3.

Dickinson coach Jay Schobinger said he likes giving the duo a breather now and again and seeing how the team responds without them.

"We went in, just kind of seeing what happens," Schobinger said.

Although Steffan had six of her 10 kills in the second game and helped stake the Midgets to a 13-1 lead to start the game, she was assisted by Marsh, Whitney Wellenstein and Lynn Messer in the front row and Sasha Bruels, who served the majority of Dickinson's 13-1 run.

Marsh said it doesn't take much for the team to gel without one of their stars.

"Everyone on the team has different personalities," Marsh said. "When we come together we can just work hard and we get things done."

However, the work the Midgets had accomplished with little help from their two main assets in the first two games was nearly wiped clean in Game 3 after the Saints, who are now 2-19 and 0-8 in the West Region, went on a 12-0 run thanks to the spot-on serving of Katrin Greff to take the lead after trailing 21-11. Greff had four aces.

"I've always told them, it's not over until they decide it is," St. Mary's coach Dena Mason said.

Schobinger called a time out shortly thereafter and calmed his team.

"We weren't going to push the panic button," Schobinger said. "We were going to let those kids go out and show they could get themselves through a game."

What emerged after the breather was a back-and-forth battle that saw five game points, including two in St. Mary's favor.

"I told them after the game, I've never been more proud of them than I have after this match," Mason said.

However, Nash spiked one of her match-high 12 kills and followed it with an ace to give the Midgets the win.

Marsh said the victory was well-deserved thanks to the increased amount of teamwork.

"We were just on the dot, just working together perfectly," Marsh said.