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   The Hill City/Northland Storm volleyball team participated in the Crosby-Ironton Tournament Saturday, Sept. 14 and walked away 0-4. They started out playing Ada-Borup-West and ended the sets 12-25 and 15-25. Next game was against Mille Lacs with one set being a little closer, but still walked away with a loss 21-25 and 13-25. The girls won one set against Aitkin, but couldn’t pull off the win and went 25-15, 18-25 and 21-25. The final game of the day was in bracket play for placement where they played Verndale. The first set ended 11-25, with the Storm winning the second set 28-26. Head coach Stacey Wake stated they were up 13-8, but fell as Verndale overtook them at the end and won 13-15.

   The Storm then traveled to Deer River Tuesday, Sept. 17 and walked away with a win against the Warriors in four sets: 27-25; 28-26; 21-25 and 25-11.

Senior captain reserve Adrienne Fenning goes up for the game-winning kill in set four, during Tuesday’s game against Deer River. Photo Submitted.

   Wake said “we were trailing in both set one and set two, the storm stayed focused and came from behind to win both. Even though Deer River grabbed set three, the storm took total control of set four and finished the game. Senior captain reserve, #16 Adrienne Fenning, came in at the end of set four and got the game-winning kill. Although she may not see as much playing time as some of the other girls, she is an important part of the team, fulfilling one of the four captain roles. I was hoping that she would have a chance to touch the ball in the end of that set. Our setter went to her right away, which shows the kind of teammates we are becoming and she got the job done. An exciting moment to clinch an important win for the Storm program.”

   Stat leaders during the game were Bella Dunham with 7 kills, 15 assists, 11 digs and 3 ace serves. Taylor Washburn had 9 kills, 12 assists and 2 ace serves. Charity Berg came up with 6 kills, 14 digs and 2 ace serves. While Ashlyn Schwarz had 8 kills, and 1 block. Nora Wake ended the evening with 6 kills, 1 block and 1 ace serve.

   Thursday saw the Storm travel to Crosby-Ironton, however they walked away with a loss in three sets: 11-25; 23-25 and 16-25.  Wake made the comment “we were all over the place, however when we stayed focused and got the little things done we hung with them.”

   The upcoming schedule will give the team  much needed rest with having just finished hosting a tournment Saturday, Sept. 21 and traveling to Nashwauk-Keewatin Monday, Sept. 23. Their next game is the annual Bigfork tournament Saturday, Sept. 28 with action beginning at 9 a.m. Then on Monday, Sept. 30 they will travel to take on Lake Christian Academy at the Duluth Indoor Sports Center. Action will begin at 4:30 with Junior High, the JV game will start at 5:45 p.m.and Varsity beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 will see the girls traveling to Mountain Iron -Buhl High School with seventh grade and JV beginning at 5:45 p.m.; eighth grade at 6:45 p.m. and Varsity starting at 7 p.m.

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