The Britton-Hecla volleyball team gave an indication in its two matches this past week that it could make some noise in postseason play that gets underway on Tuesday.
The Lady Braves defeated Great Plains Lutheran in four sets last week Tuesday and then dropped a 3-1 decision to undefeated Clark-Willow Lake on Thursday. Coach Jenna Peters’ squad wrapped up its regular season schedule at Wilmot last night Tuesday.
“GPL was a big win for us,” said Peters, and it pretty much clinched the Eastern Coteau Conference title for us. We also played really well in the first couple sets against C-WL. They are undefeated and had only lost five sets this season before we took one off them. The girls are playing better than ever and I’m excited for the post season.”
Based on seed points through Monday matches Britton-Hecla, 12-12, would be the fifth seed and play at fourth seed Redfield, 9-16, on Tuesday. Third seed Webster Area, 13-9, would host sixth seed Sisseton, 4-18, and second-seeded Aberdeen Roncalli, 16-10, would host seventh seed Milbank, 5-22. Groton Area would earn a bye as the number one seed and host the Britton/Hecla-Redfield winner next week Thursday for a berth in the SoDak 16. The Webster Area-Sisseton winner and the Roncalli-Milbank winner would also meet next week Thursday for the other SoDak 16 spot.
Redfield downed the Lady Braves in their regular season matchup 25-14, 33-35, 25-19, 25-17.
Britton-Hecla rebounded from a 31-29 opening set loss to sweep the next three sets, pounding 41 kills in the process.
Jaelee Grupe had 11 kills, Abby Lee 10 kills and three blocks, and Karlie Zuehlke nine kills and five blocks to lead the way at the net. Ava Teveldal and Grupe both came up with 19 digs to lead the defensive effort.
The Lady Braves misfired on just four serves in 78 tries and gave the unbeaten Cyclones a battle, evening the match at 1-1 after two sets before C-WL regrouped.
B-H had another strong performance at the net with 38 kills, led by Karlie Zuehlke with 10 kills and five blocks. Grupe added eight kills and Daynika Zuehlke seven. Teveldal tallied 23 digs.
The local netters trailed just 21-17 in the opening set before the visitors went on a 4-2 run to close it out. But set two was a different story. There were eight ties before B-H went on a run to stretch a 14-14 tie to a 22-16 lead. Grupe fueled that run with a pair of kills and an ace.
Set three was also tightly contested with the Lady Braves rebounding from an 188-11 deficit to trail just 18-16 as Chellon Pruitt had a b lock, Abby Lee a block, and Karlie Zuehlke served four straight with an ace. C-WL jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the final set and B-H was not able to dig out of that hole.
FOR FULL STATS SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL
