Cowgirls Put Together Solid Match Against Fairview
Although the Cowgirls came up short as far as the final score, their match against Fairview shows that they are heading in the right direction.
In an outstanding Class C volleyball clash, Fairview edged Culbertson, 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-10, on Saturday night.
“I was extremely happy with our serve receive,” Culbertson Coach Tiffany Nielsen said. “We passed the ball well and our setters really got the ball to the hitters.”
The coach noted that the Cowgirls went two weeks without a match due to needed rescheduling.
“We have been working on swinging and that was when we excelled tonight,” Nielsen said of Saturday’s match. “When we didn’t swing, we lost our edge. Overall we played as a team and we’re coming together.”
In the first set on Saturday, the Cowgirls used spikes by Cody Larsen and Kylie Portra to gain a 21-16 advantage. After an ace by Megan Asbeck pulled Fairview to 22-21, the Cowgirls took a 24-21 lead.
Fairview scored the last five points of the set on the net play of Jadyn Gackle and Morgan Slade along with the serving of Avery Seadeek.
The Warriors led 19-12 in the second set until the strong net play of 5-11 sophomore Makena Hauge led the Cowgirls back to 19-16.
A kill by McKinsey Justice and a tip by Kenadee Kempton highlighted action as Culbertson gained a 23-22 lead. A tip by Fairview’s Teigan Taylor tied the game at 23-23.
The Cowgirls earned the final two points of the set including one on a block by Justice.
The third set was deadlocked at 13-13 until three straight net winners by Kylie Portra put Culbertson in the lead.
Ahead by a 17-15 margin, the Cowgirls reeled off four straight points on Anissa Bengochea’s service. Kills by Hauge highlighted the streak. Culbertson increaed its lead to 23-17 on a block and kill by Hauge.
The Cowgirls ended the third set with kills by Koree Marchwick and Hauge.
Fairview led for most of the fourth set, but Culbertson pulled to 21-18 on an ace by Hauge and a kill by Cody Larsen.
The Warriors accounted for the last four points of the set including kills by Piper Hurley,
2:16
Asbeck and Emily Sundheim.
The score was deadlocked at 9-9 in the fifth and deciding set as Culbertson’s points included kills by Portra and Larsen.
Fairview moved ahead on kills by Gackle and Asbeck to win by the 15-10 final.
The Cowgirls will travel to Plentywood on Thursday, host Scobey on Friday and host North Country on Saturday.
“We’re excited to get back into the swing of things,” Nielsen said.
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