LRSC defeats Bismarck State in last conference home match

Article by Sam Herder, Devils Lake Journal Sports, October 13th, 2016

Since the Lake Region State College volleyball program started back up five years ago, Bismarck State College just seemed to have the Royals' number. LRSC was winless against the Mystics.

But that all changed Wednesday.

The Royals played their most complete match of the season to defeat BSC 3-1 (25-22, 15-25, 25-19, 25-18) at Sweetwater Elementary.

"We played with confidence," LRSC head coach Brigitte Greywater said. "I think you saw some lapses, but we overcame them tonight. We controlled serve-receive very well and we dug a lot of balls. We picked up what they gave us. We read the ball well, we moved well and our blocking was on. We put a whole game together."

The Royals had just four wins overall and one win in the Mon-Dak Conference entering the match while BSC was 10-12 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

Set aside the second set, and LRSC held control the entire match.

With a 1-1 match tie and the third set tied at 19-19, the Royals finished the set on a 6-0 run to go up 2-1.

"That showed us that we can win and we're a good ball team," Greywater said. "It was good to have a lapse and overcome it. It teaches you confidence and it teaches you to learn how to win."

LRSC built a 9-4 lead in the fourth set after an Evan Stack kill and a Hannah Hextall ace. The closest the Mystics got after that was three points.

The Royals finished the set strong, with two more Hextall kills and a Payton Kritzberger kill to get the 25th point and the match win.

"We needed this," Greywater said. "That was huge for the girls because we've been on a roller coaster ride. We haven't won a lot of games, but we're peaking at the right time."

BSC had trouble finding any openings in the LRSC defense. Between just Madison Wallace and Hextall, the two recorded 53 digs.

Offensively, the Royals were clicking thanks to clean passing. Setter Hannah Swartz racked up 40 assists.

"It had a lot to do with our passing so our setter doesn't have to work so hard to distribute the ball," Greywater said. "She was able to distribute it wherever she wanted to. By executing from all three positions all the time, we were able to get around their block."

LRSC hosts the 2nd Annual Sleep Inn Slamfest Volleyball Tournament this weekend. 

The Royals have one more conference road game next week before the Sub-Regional XIII Tournament.

"Keep watching," Greywater said. "The Royals are going to put it together, and we have. I hope to see big things this weekend and next weekend."