Aggressive Volleyball Leads to Royals Win over MCC

Article by Chris Harris, Devils Lake Journal Sports, October 11th, 2018

Coming off getting swept Monday night, Lake Region State College volleyball used the practice in between that loss and its match with Mon-Dak Conference opponent Miles Community College to team build. The immediate return showed Wednesday night.

The Royals used a 12-3 run in the second set that helped them sweep the Pioneers 3-0 and clinch the season series.

"The biggest part from Monday to tonight was seriously the knowledge, the understanding, and the complete confidence that you're a winner," said Royals head coach Brigitte Greywater. "And that you can go out on the floor and win."

"What we showed tonight was that everyone can attack the ball. Every single position got a kill tonight that was on the floor at one point in time and to me, that is aggressive volleyball."

The Royals (16-9, 6-3 Mon-Dak) won the first set 25-20. After gaining a 7-4 lead in the second set, the Royals saw its advantage dwindle all the way down to nothing when Uluwehi Brooks' kill gave Miles Community College the lead at 12-11. The Pioneers would build their lead up to six at 20-14 before it came crashing down.

"There was no panic. I knew by how they walked out onto the floor after my timeout that they were going to do work," Greywater said. "And that's what they did."

LRSC scored three consecutive points to pull within two at 20-18. Up 21-18, a service error by the Pioneers made the score 21-19. The Royals scored the final six points of the set to win it 25-21.

The Royals built a seven point lead in the third set and was never threatened, winning the set 25-21.

"We need to lock in this feeling, lock in this confidence and let's go. This is how we finish our year. Let's keep winning," said Greywater.

The Royals sit alone in third place in the Mon-Dak with three conference matches to go, beginning today with a "home" match against fourth place Dawson Community at Sweetwater Elementary. Next week they host first place North Dakota State College of Science back at Sports Center.

"We've been in this position before. We've been a top team in the conference so everybody has to be ready to go," Greywater said.

Annie Jorgenson had eight kills, Maara Nelson had seven kills and 12 digs, Dani Schwanke had three aces and 10 digs and Rachel Hill had 26 assists to lead the Royals.

Miles Community College fell to 7-17 overall and 1-8 in the conference.

Chris Harris can be reached at charris@devilslakejournal.com and on Twitter: @ChrisHarris_DLJ