Ord overcomes slow start, claims C-1 crown
This time, Ord’s slow start only lasted part of one game, not an entire two games.
The third-ranked Chanticleers wiped out two game points against them in game one, then rode that momentum to a 26-24, 25-16, 25-17 victory against No. 4 Minden in the Class C-1 state volleyball championship match Saturday at Pershing Center.
Ord’s (27-2) run to its first volleyball state title included a drama-filled 22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-6 win against No. 6 St. Paul in the first round Friday. Ord followed that in the semifinals with a three-game sweep of No. 2 Kearney Catholic, a team that had beaten Ord twice earlier this season.
“They really settled down and played well after those first two games against St. Paul,” Ord coach Wendy Alexander said. “I don’t know if you can coach that kind of confidence. It needs to come from within.”
Minden (29-7) led almost all of game one, as Ord’s last lead was 4-3, at least until its final run. A net violation moved Minden to game point at 24-22, but Ord responded by winning the next four points.
A right-side tip off the block by senior Kellie Peterson saved the first game point, then back-to-back Minden hitting errors gave Ord a 25-24 advantage. A point-ending tip by Kelcie Pelton on a overpass set up by a Peterson serve secured it for the Chanticleers.
“That comeback was big,’’ said Peterson, who finished with match-high 18 kills and four ace blocks. Junior setter Desiree Erikson sparked the offense with 30 assists.
“We kept talking, kept it together on the court and that pulled us through,” Peterson added.
Eight missed serves and eight hitting errors in games two and three plagued Minden. Ord overcame a 10-6 deficit in game two, turning things around with a 10-2 run. Ord and Minden went toe-to-toe for most of game three until the Chanticleers ran off the final six points of the match. Peterson had a tip and the match-ending kill during the spree, while Abby Welniak delivered a service ace.
Minden coach Ed Rowse was impressed by Ord’s defense. Senior libero Brynn Barnes’ 25 digs led that effort, while teammate senior outside hitter Riley Callan had 12 digs to go with six kills, all in games two and three.
“We lacked confidence on our attack,’’ Rowse said. “Our left-side hitters never got going, and you have to credit Ord’s defense for that. It’s also hard to get anything going when you miss as many serves as we did.”
Senior outside hitters Ann Ahrens and Lea Ann Jameson paced Minden with 11 and nine kills, respectively. Teammate Lindsey Sitorius had 25 assists.
The third-ranked Chanticleers wiped out two game points against them in game one, then rode that momentum to a 26-24, 25-16, 25-17 victory against No. 4 Minden in the Class C-1 state volleyball championship match Saturday at Pershing Center.
Ord’s (27-2) run to its first volleyball state title included a drama-filled 22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-6 win against No. 6 St. Paul in the first round Friday. Ord followed that in the semifinals with a three-game sweep of No. 2 Kearney Catholic, a team that had beaten Ord twice earlier this season.
“They really settled down and played well after those first two games against St. Paul,” Ord coach Wendy Alexander said. “I don’t know if you can coach that kind of confidence. It needs to come from within.”
Minden (29-7) led almost all of game one, as Ord’s last lead was 4-3, at least until its final run. A net violation moved Minden to game point at 24-22, but Ord responded by winning the next four points.
A right-side tip off the block by senior Kellie Peterson saved the first game point, then back-to-back Minden hitting errors gave Ord a 25-24 advantage. A point-ending tip by Kelcie Pelton on a overpass set up by a Peterson serve secured it for the Chanticleers.
“That comeback was big,’’ said Peterson, who finished with match-high 18 kills and four ace blocks. Junior setter Desiree Erikson sparked the offense with 30 assists.
“We kept talking, kept it together on the court and that pulled us through,” Peterson added.
Eight missed serves and eight hitting errors in games two and three plagued Minden. Ord overcame a 10-6 deficit in game two, turning things around with a 10-2 run. Ord and Minden went toe-to-toe for most of game three until the Chanticleers ran off the final six points of the match. Peterson had a tip and the match-ending kill during the spree, while Abby Welniak delivered a service ace.
Minden coach Ed Rowse was impressed by Ord’s defense. Senior libero Brynn Barnes’ 25 digs led that effort, while teammate senior outside hitter Riley Callan had 12 digs to go with six kills, all in games two and three.
“We lacked confidence on our attack,’’ Rowse said. “Our left-side hitters never got going, and you have to credit Ord’s defense for that. It’s also hard to get anything going when you miss as many serves as we did.”
Senior outside hitters Ann Ahrens and Lea Ann Jameson paced Minden with 11 and nine kills, respectively. Teammate Lindsey Sitorius had 25 assists.
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