Sports

Stars split road games against Lakers, Mavericks to start season

By Tyler Ohmann

09/04/2012

The Bottineau Stars began their regular season schedule this past week by splitting two non-district road matches.

First on Tuesday the Stars traveled to Des Lacs-Burlington and downed the Lakers in a 3-1 match. The Stars continued on Thursday in a tight, five-set loss to the Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Mavericks.

In Tuesday’s win the Stars fell in the first set 25-13, unable to find a rhythm. They bounced back and won the next three sets handily, 25-6, 25-18 and 25-14.

“They (DLB) played really well against us in the first game,” said Stars coach Steve Dunrud. “But we came back and when we hit the ball at them, they were unable to run their offense well.”

Senior middle hitter Katryna Hahn was a force for the Stars in the win. She finished with team-bests in kills (10), blocks (seven) and aces (four).

Also solid for the Stars were juniors Danielle McDonald and Bailey Neubauer. McDonald finished with nine kills, three aces and a team-best six digs. Neubauer had 24 set-assists and three aces, while finishing with 17-of-18 from the service line.

The Stars closed out their week with a tough five-set loss to the Mavericks in Mohall on Thursday evening.

Bottineau jumped out to an early two sets to nothing lead as they captured the first two sets 25-15, 25-17. However, the Mavericks rallied and won the next two sets 25-21 and 25-17.

In the final tiebreaking set to 15, the Mavericks snuck away the win with a 16-14 victory to exact some revenge from a defeat at the hands of the Stars at an Aug. 25 tournament in Bottineau.

Hahn had another impressive night in the loss recording 23 kills and 12 digs. Neubauer had a season-high 48 set-assists in the loss, as well as a stuff block. McDonald had 14 kills, 12 digs and two aces.

Junior Courtney Gallagher also did well getting team-highs in aces (four) and digs (13).

“Playing in five-set matches like that is good,” Dunrud said. “They learn how long they are, what they need to do to win them. Hopefully they use it going forward.”

The loss dropped the Stars to 6-2 in matches this season. On the season Hahn leads the Stars with 74 kills, 14 blocks and 15 aces. McDonald has a team-best 53 digs. Neubauer has the team lead in set-assists with 176. Rachael Fix is the top server for the Stars putting all 53 of her serves in play.

Bottineau continues their season this week with matches at Bishop Ryan tonight at 7 p.m. and with a homecoming match against Kenmare at 7 p.m. on Thursday. They then travel to take part in the Glenburn Invitational on Saturday.