Volleyball: Yellowjackets sting Blue Devils in five
Published 9:10 pm Wednesday, October 4, 2017
- Riverland’s Marissa Hart attempts a quick set during game two against RCTC Wednesday night at RCC. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Riverland Community College volleyball team showed some vast signs of improvement, but it ran out of momentum as it lost to Rochester Community and Technical College (8-12 overall, 5-3 MCAC) by scores of 23-25, 25-14, 30-32, 25-15, 15-8 in Riverland Gym Wednesday.
The Blue Devils (2-14 overall, 2-7 MCAC) had been swept by the Yellowjackets back on Sept. 6, but RCC came out with much more fire this time, despite having just seven players on the active roster. RCC initially led the fifth and final set 5-1, but after it was ruled that the Blue Devils were serving out of rotation, their lead was re-set to 3-2. RCTC took advantage by taking a 9-4 lead and Hayfield grad Anna Carney served four straight points to put the Yellowjackets up 14-7.
Riverland Community College’s Jaidyn Bastian pushes the ball forward against RCTC Wednesday night at Riverland Community College. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
RCC sophomore Sam Siskow, a LeRoy-Ostrander grad who had 33 kills and 13 digs, said the stoppage of play from the rotation error made things tough for the Blue Devils.
“It shouldn’t have really affected us, but it did,” she said. “I’m not pinning the entire game on that, but that’s where the turning point was for our team.”
Siskow was able to help the Blue Devils close out a gut-wrenching win in the third set as she put down a kill to tie it at 30-30 and she knocked down another kill to win the set 32-30. Siskow was able to stay effective by switching between tips and spikes on her attacks.
“It really helped that my back row as talking to me and letting me know where the open spots were,” Siksow said. “It’s a matter of having experience, knowing the opposing team and knowing what their weaknesses are.”
RCTC’s Anna Carney, a Hayfield graduate, receives a serve against Riverland at RCC Wednesday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Owatonna grad Elly Buck had 11 kills and 29 digs for RCC, Austin grad Marissa Hart had 41 set assists and Austin grad Jaidyn Bastian had 16 digs.
RCC has nine matches remaining as it moves into the second half of the conference schedule.
“I definitely think that our team has improved a lot,” Siskow said. “I think that when we come around and play all of these teams that beat us earlier, we’ll be able to beat them or at least take them to five games.”
RCC stats: Sam Siskow, 33 kills, 3 ace blocks, 13 digs; Elly Buck, 11 kills, 4 ace blocks, 29 digs; Steph Hollicky, 10 kills, 13 digs; Jaidyn Bastian, 3 kills, 1 ace block, 16 digs; Kayla Gerber, 10 digs; Marissa Hart, 10 digs, 41 set assists
RCTC’s Lauren Larkoski, a Blooming Prairie graduate, hits against Riverland Wednesday night at Riverland Community College. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
