Culbertson Captures Win During District 1C Volleyball Tournament

Culbertson needed to comeback in each set, but the Cowgirls emerged with a 25-22, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, victory over MonDak in the firstround of the District 1C volleyball tourney in Culbertson on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

“MonDak came ready to play,” Culbertson Coach Tiffany Nielsen said. “I was pleased with how our seniors stepped up.”

After the serving of Brynn Folvag led the Thunder to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set, the Cowgirls called time-out and responded with the next four points on kills by Kylie Portra and McKinsey Justice.

The serving of Anissa Bengochea put Culbertson up by a 12-10 advantage. Ahead only 21-18, the Cowgirls scored on another kill by Justice. Mon-Dak fought back on kills by Emma Smart and Angelina Garcia for a 22-22 deadlock.

After a kill by Portra put Culbertson ahead. The Cowgirls tallied the last two points on Justice’s service.

Culbertson trailed by only an 11-10 margin in the second set until the Thunder broke away to gain a 20-13 advantage.

A kill by Cody Larsen cut the gap to 20-14. Culbertson then struck for the set’s final 11 points on sophomore Kenadee Kemmpton’s service. Highlighting the streak were six aces by Kempton, two blocks by Makena Hauge and a kill by Koree Marchwick.

“She works hard. She always works hard,” Nielsen said of Kempton.

MonDak earned an 18-12 lead in the third set, but a kill and ace by Hauge pulled the Cowgirls to 18-14.

The net play of Brynn Folvag and Smart led the Thunder to a 25-17 victory. Elizabeth Field served an ace to end the third set.

The Cowgirls trailed 17-11 in the fourth set until Culbertson responded with kills by Portra and Justice along with aces by Larsen for an 18-17 lead.

Kills by Portra and an ace by Marchwick put Culbertson up 21-19. An ace by Justice and a kill by Hauge increased the margin to 23-19.

Hauge scored a kill for a 24-20. After MonDak closed the gap to 24-22 until Larsen ended the match with a spike.

Justice finished with six kills and 17 digs. Hauge accounted for 10 aces, four blocks and 25 digs. Bengochea had five digs.

Kempton had seven aces, one assist and eight digs. Larsen added four aces, five kills and 25 digs. Marchwick had 24 assists and eight digs.