Sports

Stars soar past Eagles in battle for Bottineau County

By Tyler Ohmann

09/25/2012

The two prep volleyball teams in Bottineau County squared off last Tuesday as the Bottineau Stars hosted the Newburg-Westhope Eagles.

The Stars took the match with a clean 3-0 sweep to kick off a perfect week, as they won again on Thursday evening in Drake, sweeping the Lady Raiders as well.

However, the week began on Tuesday as the Stars breezed by the Eagles in three straight sets.

“We tried to block, and we did a pretty good job blocking them, we just didn’t get there for those covering,” said Eagles coach Kaitie Fluhrer. “That killed us, our covering and our serving. It was not my team tonight.”

Bottineau dominated set one with a 25-6 beat down over the Eagles, as the Stars enjoyed a strong victory.

“The more our attitudes are positive, the better we always do,” said junior outside hitter Courtney Gallagher. “It’s always good to have fun in the games too.”

Newburg-Westhope played much better in the second set, but couldn’t top the Stars, who won 25-21 to take a 2-0 set lead.

The Eagles learned from their mistakes in game one to improve in the second game, and Fluhrer said she knows what to do against the Stars the next time the teams play.

“I let them know that you have to learn from your mistakes, and what not to do against certain teams,” Fluhrer said. “We learned exactly what not to do on Bottineau, because they are going to bring everything back at you no matter what you do.”
“If you are sleeping for one play, they are coming right back at you,” Fluhrer added.

The Stars closed out the match victory with a third set 25-12 knockout punch.

“It was really nice to get the win tonight, especially in three games, those five-game matches get really tiring,” Gallagher said. “The season is going good, and we are improving a lot. We just have to prove it now, in the rest of our games.”

Gallagher, who was tied for team-high’s in digs (six) and blocks (one) played her role up front well in the win.

“I love being in the front, and playing outside this year,” Gallagher said. “It’s really fun, and it’s just a really good feeling when you get nice kills, and your teammates get nice kills. It keeps everyone’s momentum up.”

Her teammates also stepped up in the front row as senior Katryna Hahn had a game-high 11 kills, six digs and a block.

Bailey Neubauer was also productive for the Stars as she had 28 set-assists and four ace serves.

The Eagles were led by seniors Hadlee Schell and Jade Teske. Schell had two aces and two blocks, while Teske paced the Eagles with four digs.

“They can play, they just have to decide they want to play,” Fluhrer said about her Eagle team. “They are good girls. They will bounce back, and they are already ready to meet them again in districts.”

“They are excited to play them again, and show them our real team,” Fluhrer added.