The 10 a.m. start time didn't bother the Ray volleyball team, as the Jays defeated Dickinson Trinity in four sets (25-16, 25-13, 20-25, 25-13) in the state tournament's seventh-place match Saturday at the Minot State University Dome.
Ray senior middle blocker Olivia Corcoran had a team-high 15 kills and junior middle blocker Hanna Gillund finished with 12 kills to help the Jays finish on a high note.
"We just didn't want to finish last," Gillund said. "We were happy to come to state, but we just wanted to win the game."
Article Photos
Mike Kraft/MDN
Dickinson Trinity junior Katelyn Grinsteinner attempts a spike as Ray seniors Kendra Perdue, left, and Olivia Corcoran, right, go up for a block during the seventh-place match Saturday at the MSU Dome.
Having lost their first two matches of the tournament equaling their loss total from the regular season the Jays (35-4-3 overall) stormed out of the gate, taking commanding leads in each of the first two sets. Ray held an 18-9 advantage in the first set and a 20-11 lead in the second game, easily claiming each.
"We had better floor movement today," Ray coach Michelle Dolan said. "We were reacting to where the hits were."
Trinity senior outside hitter Alyson Schieno attempted to rally the Titans from a two-set hole. Schieno accounted for 21 of the Titans' 33 kills. Trinity led throughout the third set with sophomore setter Katelyn Dockter setting up Schieno at the front of the net.
Schieno also had 12 digs, two aces and a block for the Titans. Dockter finished with 27 assists.
After surrendering a 2-1 set lead in a five-game loss to Our Redeemer's Christian School on Friday, the Jays were determined to end the match in four.
"It's a matter of pride to end on a win," Dolan said. "Not too many teams can end their season on a win and we wanted that one."
Ray used balanced scoring from Gillund, junior outside hitter Paige Dolan and senior middle blocker Kendra Heier to build a 19-9 lead in the fourth set. After a short rally by the Titans, Corcoran and senior outside hitter Kendra Perdue closed out the match with four of the Jays' final five points.
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Consolation roundup
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Park River-Fordville-Lankin 3, Linton-HMB 1
The Aggies bounced back from a flat first set to post a four-game (12-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22) win over Linton-HMB in the third-place match of the Class B state tournament.
Senior outside hitter Kirsten Johnson led PR-F-L with 19 kills and added 21 digs. Setters Hannah Swartz and Carly Myrdal combined for 35 assists, and senior Sadie Vold scooped up a team-high 24 digs.
Linton was led by sophomore outside hitter Nicole Nieuwsma's 17 kills. McKenna Flyberg racked up 36 digs and seven kills, and sophomore setter Tiffaney Gerving tallied 33 assists.
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Dickinson 3, West Fargo 1
The Midgets salvaged third place with a four-set (13-25, 25-22, 29-27, 25-17) win over West Fargo in the Class A state tournament.
Dickinson's Abby Grove tallied 19 kills and senior setter Ali Moody dished out 30 assists.
West Fargo had three hitters with double-digit kill totals: Ashley Cambronne (20), Courtney Suppa (11) and Amanda Levin (11). Packers setter Andrea Klug had 46 assists and senior libero Jolene Woodbury had a team-high 14 digs.
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Fargo Shanley 3, Jamestown 2
Fargo Shanley held off Jamestown in five sets (21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11) to take fifth place at the Class A state volleyball tournament.
Shanley's Alivia Fraase led all players with 20 kills. Carolyn Mickelson (11) and Jessica Anderson (10) also had double-digit kill totals for the Deacons.
Billie Buchanan and Addie Eamon led Jamestown with 13 kills apiece. Josie Hegerle had 35 assists.
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Fargo Davies 3, Bismarck High 1
The Eagles beat Bismarck High 3-1 in the Class A seventh-place match.
Senior Kali Erickson had 21 kills and junior Kinsey Papachek added 11 to lead Davies to the 25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 25-14 win.
Noami Rust led the Demons with 15 kills and senior libero Karli Sanders totaled 23 digs.