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.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
Jake Lockard
Discussion
November 1, 2009
Blue Devils repeat
Bis-Henn beats PBL for Class 2A regional title
- Sports
-
-
Patriots take sectional crown
Seeger wins sectional title for second year in a row against Delphi
-
Vikings fall apart in second half
Bright first half overshadowed by Peoria Manual in 82-58 defeat.
-
Falcons fall short in sectional final
North Vermillion fails to do the little things in 53-44 loss to Riverton Parke.
-
Local Roundup: Six wrestlers make state
Bis-Henn advances three, Hoopeston Area gets two and Oakwood moves one to Champaign next week.
-
Cold weather still has not affected the ponds
Ice fishermen may not get their wish with late cold snap.
-
Saturday's local scores and glances
Boxscores and glances from Saturday's local action.
-
Vikes take step forward
Danville sees positives for the future in loss to Normal West.
-
Comets win sixth straight
Oakwood almost plays a perfect game in 45-29 win over Westville.
-
Patriots move on to sectional championship
Seeger holds down Sheridan's top scorer to get 48-24 victory.
-
Falcons make sectional title game
Turchi scores 21 points as North Vermillion beats down Rockville
- More Sports Headlines
-
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean
Apple of their eye at $500 a share
Adele's revealing "60 Minutes" interview
Rosenthal: A's sign Cespedes
Bobby Brown on Houston's Death
Turkey's first face transplant
Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Kelly Ripa's Fashion Faux Pas
Lusetich: AT&T Recap
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
Grammys 2012: Highlights
2.12: Pebble Beach Pro-Am -- Phil Mickelson
2012 Grammys: Rihanna
2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips
