by Kelsey Buchholz, Assistant Coach
The Garretson volleyball team (18-4) entered post-season play with high hopes and sights set on finishing the job left open from last year, but first they needed to get past rival Baltic (15-6), who had been having a memorable season of their own.
Baltic (#3 seed) took down the Dell Rapids Quarriers (#6 seed) in five sets earlier in the week and were hoping to keep that momentum as they entered the Dragons' Lair last Thursday. Winner of this match would advance to the SoDak16.
Despite being on their home court, Garretson struggled to find momentum, quickly finding themselves down 0-7 through a combination of serve-receive and attack errors. The Blue Dragons continued to pick at the deficit, eventually tying the game at 15, but the momentum was difficult to keep.
After starting in such a big hole, Garretson felt like they were a half step behind the whole match. Baltic once again extended their lead to 21-19, prompting Coach Northrup of the Blue Dragons to call a time out. Garretson quickly refocused and knotted the game at 22 apiece.
But Baltic once again took the momentum going up 22-24 and Coach Northrup used his second and final timeout of the match. Garretson secured the next point putting the game at 23-24 but couldn't pick up the tip from the Bulldog offense and dropped the first set 23-25.
While it stunned the home crowd, the Blue Dragons were not dismayed and came out with a fire in the second set. Garretson took an early 6-4 lead and then pushed it to 15-11 midway through the match. Garretson was able to keep their set dominance to the end, winning 25-16, evening the game at 1 set each.
With momentum on Garretson's side, the Blue Dragons came out screaming, jumping to an early 5-2 lead and kept that for the majority of the set, pausing at 18-15, but not being able to really spread the game by more than three points. The Bulldogs unleashed for the next three points, tying the game at 18. Then Baltic cruised for three of the next four points.
Coach Northrup called for a timeout to refocus the Garretson Netters but Baltic put their game plan into practice and grabbed the next two, extending their lead 23-19. After another timeout by Coach Northrup, Garretson earned the next two points but the Bulldogs retaliated with two of their own, getting them to the 25-point threshold.
The fourth set was a win-or-go home for the #2 seed, and the tight back and forth competition continued. The game was tied at 4s and then again at 9s. Garretson took a slight lead at 15-12 and then pushed it to a four-point spread at 22-18. Baltic called an effective timeout, rallying for the next three points where Northrup responded with a timeout of his own. Garretson was able to close out the close set with a 25-21 victory, pushing the game to a decisive fifth set.
Both teams had tensions and emotions running high and that was mirrored in the stands. Only going to 15 in the last set, Garretson knew they needed to come out strong but after a quality serve receive pass and good attack, they failed to get into the right position on defense and Baltic took advantage. It was enough to rattle the Blue Dragons as they couldn't stop the serve, falling behind 0-5. In a race to 15, that was a huge deficit to overcome.
But much like the first set, Garretson picked at the lead and went on a 4-1 run of their own. However, mirroring the first set, it was difficult to keep the momentum as Baltic continued to push a two or three point lead and Garretson worked to close the gap.
In the final points, the Bulldogs exposed a gap in the Blue Dragon defense when trying to defend out of the middle. Garretson wasn't quick enough to make the adjustment and Baltic finished out the game 15-10, qualifying for the SoDak16 on Tuesday, November 10.
Garretson put down 52 kills on the night, paced by Lily Ranschau (17), Kennedy Buckneberg (12) Logan Bly (7), and Mattea Fiegen (7). Peyton Hove (25) and Jaelyn Benson (23) put up the majority of the 52 assists. The Blue Dragons combined for 117 digs in the five-set match: Lauren Heesch (26), Buckneberg (25), Benson (21), and Ranschau (16) led the defensive effort.
Although it was a disappointing loss and the Blue Dragons were unable to achieve their goal of SoDak16 redemption, that does not take away from the great successes they had in their 2020 campaign.
The Blue Dragons ended their season 18-5, the best record the team has had in over a decade. Garretson also clinched a share of the Big East Conference title, going 7-1 in conference play (same as Chester and Parker). They also earned 2nd place in the Big East Conference tournament.
Garretson was led by a solid group of six seniors: Kennedy Buckneberg, Mattea Fiegen, Lauren Heesch, Peyton Hove, Madden Lardy, Lizzie Olson. These ladies have been integral in the turnaround success of the Blue Dragon volleyball program and we wish them best of luck.
