Knights’ Season Ends in Regionals
SIDNEY - Sidney completed a season sweep of Fremont-Mills and ended the Knights’ season with a 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-22 victory in the Class 1A regional semifinals Friday in Sidney.
Fremont-Mills coach Tracy Malcom said she thought her team played a “fantastic game” overall as they battled through an injury to top setter Marianna Gutta, who sprained her ankle in the opening set.
“She was in a lot of pain, but did not want to come out of the match,” Malcom said. “We had studied film on Sidney and tried to match up the best we could and we had switched up a few things in our rotation and in our defense scheme and it seemed to work at times.”
After droping a close first set, the Knights bounced back to win set two and looked poised to take set two in a nip-tuck match until the Cowgirls pulled out the win with a late rally.
“I had told the girls before the game, if you give 110 percent tonight and leave it all on the floor, that is all that we can ask of you,” Malcom said. “Sidney is a very good team and the leaps and bounds that our team has made this year, is amazing. Many people counted us out to be one of the tougher teams in the conference this year, but our girls showed how good they really are and maintained that toughness throughout the season.”
The Knights’ effort kept them in the match but an aggressive Cowgirl attack that netted 50 kills was just two much. Lexy Larsen led the way for Sidney with 16 kills. Camryn McClintock added 15.
Fremont-Mills hit .229 as a team and finished with 38 kills. Sophie Phillips led the way with nine kills. Taryn Hansen and Clara Schaaf each added eight.
The Knights complete their season with a record of 19-10 overall and 6-2 in the Corner Conference.
“As sad as I am end to see the season end, I could not be more proud of these ladies on how they played their final game of the season,” Malcom said. “Our seniors worked so very hard and I am grateful for all their hard work and determination to the Fremont-Mills Sidney (31-1) advanced to play Stanton (22-15) tonight in the Class 1A regional finals in Clarinda with a bid to state on the line.
Fremont-Mills 25-25-25
East Mills 23-11-15
TABOR - Fremont-Mills overcame a slow start and a red hot East Mills attack to rally back from down eight points in the first set and then win the next two sets going away to sweep to a 25-23, 25-11, 25-15 victory in the Class 1A regional quarterfinals at the Lied Gymnasium last Tuesday.
The Wolverines, who dropped a 14-25, 25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 9-15 decision to the same Knights on Sept. 9, came out hot, taking an early 7-2 lead that swelled to as many as eight midway through the first set. But a timeout by Knights’ coach Tracy Malcom calmed her team and helped key the comeback.
Clara Schaaf’s kill capped a 5-1 Knight run that knotted the score at 23-23. A kill by Taryn Hansen and an ace by Schaaf gave F-M the game one win.
“That was a total momentum boost for us,” Malcom said of her team’s first set rally. “We came out a little sluggish, I’m not real sure why, but we got down a few points and I called a time out and told the girls we needed to turn things around, get our offense back, focus on our serves and on defense. The girls did that and I’m proud of them.”
The Knights quickly built a 10-2 advantage in the second set and led by as many as 13 as they cruised to a set two win. Set three opened much the same way with the Knights going again 12-6 and then 19-9 before closing out the Wolverines’ season 25-15.
East Mills coach Connie Blank said her team had prided itself on its defense all season but the Knights found holes they were able to exploit. The Knights finished with 31 kills and hit .267 as a team.
“This is the best blocking team we’ve ever had and defensively they’ve been very good, but tonight, it just wasn’t our night in the last two sets,” Blank said. “I’m not sure what really happened but they (Fremont-Mills) grabbed the momentum and didn’t let go.”
Taryn Hansen led Fremont-Mills with 10 kills. Schaaf added nine. Samantha Opal and Emmy Duysen each recorded seven kills to lead East Mills.
The Knights move on to face state ranked Sidney in the district semifinals Friday in Sidney. Malcom said her team must avoid another slow start.
“I told the girls, from here on out we have to have our offense,” Malcom said. “We can’t tip the ball. We have to hit. We have to be strong at the net hitting and blocking and come out like gangbusters. And that’s what we did.”
The Cowgirls (30-1) beat the Knights 26-24, 25-13, 25-13 in the Corner Conference Tournament finals Oct. 8 and are 2-0 against them this season. Malcom said she had not allowed herself or her team to look toward a rematch with Cowgirls until after the East Mills match.
“We want to take every game as it comes,” Malcom said. “After tonight I’ll turn to Friday. Sidney is a great team. They’re an all around sound team. But we played them in the conference finals and we came out strong. In my belief, we felt like we should have had the first set there but kudos to Sidney, they came back and won. I told the girls, anything can happen any given night and there’s no reason we can’t play with them.”
The Wolverines close out their season with a record of 15-14.