BISMARCK — A lot of the names have changed from last year but the result was still the same as the Bismarck-Henning Blue Devils defeated Paxton-Buckley-Loda 25-18, 26-24 to capture their second consecutive regional final win over the Panthers.
The Blue Devils have appeared in 13 consecutive regional finals — winning eight — and used what senior Courtney Reinken called their best team effort of the season to claim the win.
“I would agree it was a total team effort tonight,” said Blue Devils coach Susan Kentner. “We have a mix that includes a lot of young players but even our older players don’t have much experience from last season. It has been a very satisfying season. To get to 20 wins, win the county, win the conference, and now a regional is a testament to how hard the players work and how coachable they are.”
The first set went back and forth early and was tied at 14-14 before the Blue Devils went on a 4-0 spurt. The Panthers would close the score to 19-17 before a 5-0 Blue Devils run effectively put things out of reach.
“We were able to get our block going and caused them a lot of trouble at the net,” said Kentner. “Alexis Walsh made a nice kill for us that got things going and we were able to get some momentum going.
“Volleyball is a game where the momentum can shift so easily. You’re on a roll and the next thing you know you’ve given up five points in a row. The team that can continue to play their game when that happens usually comes out on top and we were able to get back to our game when we needed to tonight.”
The second set illustrated Kentner’s point on momentum — which shifted back and forth multiple times. PBL got out to a 3-0 lead before the Blue Devils responded with a 9-0 run of their own. The Panthers would answer right back with a 10-4 spurt to tie the score at 13-13 forcing a Bismarck-Henning time out.
“During the time out I told the team to get back to the attack,” Kentner said. “Samantha Siddens made a big play after the break that got us going.”
Siddens went into the Blue Devils bench to save a point that started a 5-0 Blue Devils run making the score 18-13. PBL would answer back once more by tying the score 24-24 before the Blue Devils got the last two points to claim the set and match.
“We have faced situations like that a lot and the key is keeping the ball alive and moving your feet,” Kentner said. “You keep the other team moving then go for the point. Overall, I was very happy with our defensive effort tonight.”
The Blue Devils are now 23-3 on the season and move on to sectional play Tuesday at Monticello.
“I was especially happy tonight for our seniors (Reinken, Walsh, Jordan Arford, Melissa Miller),’ Kentner said. “We will have to keep doing what were doing. … Playing hard and being aggressive on offense.”
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