Down two games to none in their Class 2A Regional volleyball opener, the Okoboji Pioneers rallied in front of their home crowd to take the third set and led the visiting Eagles of North Sentral Kossuth/Armstrong-Ringsted 24-15 in game four. Ten games points came and went as the Pioneers tried to force a decisive fifth set, however, in the end, it would be NSK/AR with the impressive come from behind win to seize the match and advance to the regional quarterfinals. The set scores were 25-18, 25-23, 20-25, and 31-29. The Pioneers also committed five service errors during that final set. Junior Skylar Hansen was a dominant force throughout, slamming home a game-high 19 kills, to go along with three blocks. Senior Mikkinzie Peschong, a three-year starter playing in her final game, tallied thirteen kills and three blocks for the Pioneers, who end their year at 13-16 overall. North Sentral Kossuth/Armstrong-Ringsted was paced by Kelsey Gerhart’s 14 kills. Cierra Brandt chipped in with ten kills. The Eagles, at 22-18, will travel to Sheldon on Tuesday for the regional quarterfinals. The seventh-ranked Orabs advanced with a 25-15, 25-14, and 25-11 victory over Estherville-Lincoln Central. The Midgets season comes to a close at 23-12.
Click here for the postgame interview with Okoboji coach Abby Goodlaxson.
The top half of the bracket saw the Emmetsburg E-Hawks fall at West Hancock in four sets, 25-11, 25-20, 24-26, and 25-13. Emmetsburg final record was 3-25. West Hancock will now meet Clarion-Goldfield, who swept Eagle Grove, 25-11, 25-13, and 25-19.
In other class 2A volleyball action, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn was dropped in three quick sets on the road by Unity Christian, 25-11, 25-11, and 25-10. The Hawks were 3-16 this fall. The Knights move on to play South O’Brien after the Wolverines got by Pocahontas Area/Pomeroy-Palmer in a sweep, 26-24, 25-14, and 26-24.
Sioux Center topped Sioux Central in a three-set sweep, 25-12, 25-7, and 25-17. Undefeated and top-ranked Western Christian handled Rock Valley in three games, 25-1, 25-10, and 25-5. The defending state champion Wolfpack will square off with West Lyon, who eliminated Sibley-Ocheyedan in three sets, 25-20, 25-19, and 25-16. The Generals finished 4-25 this season.
In non-tournament volleyball, Spencer capped their regular season with one more Lakes Conference victory, defeating Storm Lake in three sets, 25-18, 25-11, and 25-18. The Tigers are 15-21 overall and finished 4-3 in league play. They host the Spirit Lake Indians in the Class 3A Regional playoffs on Monday, a match that can be heard live on KUOO.
North of the border, Jackson County Central had few problems with Redwood Valley in an easy three-set sweep, 25-9, 25-6, and 25-6. Martin County West required four sets to get by Alden-Conger, 25-17, 27-25, 25-27, and 25-23. Fairmont dropped a four-set match to New Ulm, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, and 25-23. And Canby swept three straight against Worthington, 25-20, 25-14, and 25-20.
