Fighting Cougars get past Miller in Class A consolation semifinals

RAPID CITY — The McCook Central-Montrose Fighting Cougars recorded a 3-1 victory against the Miller Rustlers in the consolation semifinals of the Class A State Volleyball Tournament on Friday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.
Set scores for the Fighting Cougars were 18-25, 25-19, 25-21 and 25-17.
The Rustlers took an early lead in the first set at a 10-5 score, with double kills from Karly Beckett. McKenna Kranz attempted to keep the Fighting Cougars alive, but a kill from Annie Keeter sent them into a time out at a 13-8 lead for the Rustlers. Kills from Kadye Fernholz and Kassie Schaefers kept the Rustlers in the lead at 19-15, while Kranz and Leslie Kolbeck kept the Fighting Cougars’ score as close behind as possible, but lost to Miller 25-18.
The Fighting Cougars came back in set two with a strong fight, as they took the lead 8-4 with a kill from Jacy Pulse, before a pair of kills from  Fernholz gave the Rustlers a 11-9 lead. Aleah Ries and Morgan Koepsell kept the score tied up until the Fighting Cougars took over the game and won the second set at 25-19.
The third set started as a chasing game for points as both teams had a set win with a tied score of 4-4. Then Fernholz took over with back to back kills, which brought the Rustlers to a 12-5 lead before the Fighting Cougars caught up at a 14-14 tied score. Tied up again at 20-20, Kranz took an ace which sent the Rustlers into a time out, behind by one point. The third set ended 25-21 in favor of the Fighting Cougars.
With a 2-1 lead, the Fighting Cougars started off the fourth set, as they took the lead early again at 7-2. Miller, down by two sets, slipped behind as the Fighting Cougars took a 12 point lead in set four, at a score of 20-8. The Rustlers brought their score up but didn’t manage to make the cut, as the Fighting Cougars won the last set 25-17.
Leading the Rustlers was Fernholz with 15 kills and 14 digs, while VonnaGail Schlechter had nine kills and 20 digs. Kassie Schaefers made the only ace for Miller and hit four kills, while Rachel Oligmueller made 33 assists and 11 digs.
The Fighting Cougars were led by Kranz with 16 kills and an ace, while Aleah Ries had three aces and nine kills as they returned from a loss in the first set to three straight wins. Morgan Koepsell hit 13 kills, while Emily Ries had 25 assists.

McCook Central/Montrose will face sixth-seeded Sioux Valley for the consolation title at 10:45 a.m. MT today.
The Miller Rustlers will play seventh-seeded Parker for seventh place at 9 a.m. MT today.

Sioux Valley 3, Parker 2
The Sioux Valley Cossacks took a 3-2 win against the Parker Pheasants, in a five set match Friday afternoon at the Class “A” State Volleyball Tournament.
Set scores for the Cossacks, now 26-4 on the season, were 25-22, 20-25, 23-25, 25-15 and 15-10, while the Pheasants season record dropped to 25-7.
The Cossacks were led by Nikole Ziegler with 24 kills, while Lynsey Stevens hit 20 kills and one ace. Rachel Miller had 57 assists and one kill, Miakken Vincent hit four kills and one ace, while Bryn Tvedt had ten kills and 13 digs.
Leading the Pheasants was Hannah Viet with 21 kills, while Grace Leberman had 18 kills and 16 digs. Hannah Even made 49 assists and Karley Peters hit six kills.
Today the Cossacks will take on the McCook Central-Montrose Fighting Cougars for fifth place at 10:45 a.m., MT, in the Consolation Championship at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. Parker will play the Miller Rustlers at 9 a.m., MT, for seventh place.
 
Thursday, Nov. 16
The Dakota Valley Panthers defeated the Parker Pheasants 3 sets to none, late Friday evening at the Civic Center in Rapid City.
Set scores for the Panthers were 25-16, 25-12 and 25-18.
The Panthers were led by Meredith Lammers with 15 kills, while Alyssa Johnson with four aces and Hanna Cummins hit two aces. Ally Beresford made 38 assists and Elizabeth Lammers hit two kills and one ace.
Leading the Pheasants were Hannah Viet with seven kills and Raelin Jurgens with six kills, while Hannah Even made 19 assists.