No. 2 Kernels escape with win against Huron

HURON — The Mitchell Kernels, the No. 2 ranked team in the state, won 3-2 in a nail- bitting five set Class “AA” volleyball game against the Huron Tigers Thursday night. Set scores were 26-24, 16-25, 25-15, 19-25 and 16-14. The Kernels improve to 13-1 with the win while Huron drops to 7-6.
Both teams scored points early in the first set, before Huron took a 10-3 lead after an 8-0 run., keyed by five straight aces from Tenley Buddenhagen.
 “We gave everything we could. I am really proud of our kids,” said coach Shelly Buddenhagen.
The Kernels started picking up points from Mackenzie Miller kills, while the Tigers kept the lead. Sage Jorgensen brought the game to 16-16 with an ace in the middle of the first set. Chasing back and forth for points between the Huron and Mitchell for the rest of the first set, the Kernels took the lead at 24-23 with a kill from Chelsea Brewster. Hollee Niehus brought the score back to a tie at 24-24 with a kill, but another Brewster kill, coupled with a Brooke Flemmer kill, ended the first set 26-24 in Mitchell’s favor.
In set two, Huron took the first two points with an ace from Jayda Shillingstad and a Mitchell error. But both teams stayed close in points until an ace from Niehus, plus a couple of kills from Mikena Moore and Carli Lentsch, started the Tigers on a 6-0 run bringing the score to 14-6.
Huron played a fierce second set staying in the lead with kills from Moore, Niehus, Tenley Buddenhagen plus aces from Shillingstad and Alexis Urena. Mitchell stayed close behind with kills from Brewster and Cassie Hohrman but not close enough, finishing the second set 25-16 on a Kernels’ service error.
“Lots of momentum swings tonight. Good teams come back and both of us did tonight,” said Buddenhagen. “We didn’t make as many adjustments as we thought we would need. I thought we matched up well and did a very good job at serve and receive tonight.”
Continuing the point chasing in the beginning of the third set, the teams tied twice before Mitchell had a 6-0 run, its best of the game so far, with a couple kills from Miller and an ace from Flemmer. Huron tried to catch up and gathered some points from a streak of Niehus kills, but couldn’t keep up and ended the set at 25-15 to the Kernels.
“I thought we played a very intelligent game,” Buddenhagen said. “Give Mitchell credit, they fought back when they were down.”

Set four started off in Mitchell’s favor with a couple service errors from Huron, but a pair of Niehus kills kept it tight. . A 4-0 run from the Kernels put the game at 8-6, but Kayla Schimke took over the game with a 10-0 run of kills and blocks, bringing the score to 16-8.  
Huron kept the lead for the rest of the third set with a 25-19 win, and evened out the game with the score at 2-2.
“Our kids fight and don’t give up. Every day in practice on every point. We’re working to get better every day and at every game,” coach Buddenhagen said. “We continue to improve and we are getting contributions from more kids further down the depth chart.”
Mitchell started set five with a bang, jumping into a 5-0 lead right away, but a combination of Schimke, Niehus and Shillingstad kills, plus aces from Havyn Heinz and Buddenhagen, brough the game to 12-12. Then Kylie Overbay with an ace and Carly Haring with a kill, the game was tied again at 14-14. Miller brought the last set to match point with a kill for the Kernels, and ended the game at 16-14 with another kill.
Huron won the JV match 25-13 and 26-24, while the sophomore team also prevailed, 25-17 and 25-20.
Huron hosts Aberdeen Central next Thursday at Huron Arena.

Mitchell     26 16 25 19 16
Huron     24 25 15 25 14

Hitting: HU - Hollee Niehus, 20 kills; Kayla Schimke, 13 kills; Mikena Moore, 6 kills; Jayda Shillingstad, 5 kills.
Serving: HU - Tenley Buddenhagen, 5 aces; Niehus, 3 aces; Shillingstad, 2 aces.
Setting: HU - Shillingstad, 39 assists; Buddenhagen, 1 assist; Havyn Heinz, 1 assist.
Digs: HU - Heinz, 38; Isabell Ford, 12; Shillingstad, 10; Niehus, 9.

Photos:

Huron’s Havyn Heinz passes the ball during a match against Mitchell on Thursday at Huron Arena.

Next, Huron’s Jayda Shillingstad sets the ball at the net during a match Thursday against Mitchell at Huron Arena.

Photos by Mike Carroll of the Plainsman