Facing the end of their season, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn volleyball team bounced back from a two-games-to-one deficit to defeat Sioux Central 3-2 October 18 at Sioux Rapids. The Class 2A Region 1 Tournament opener saw HMS take the first game 25-23 but fall to the Rebels in the next two 25-20 and 25-15. With their back to the wall, the Hawks tied the match with a 25-12 victory in game four and used that momentum to take the deciding game five 15-9.
“Game one we came out strong,” commented HMS head coach Cheryl Kroese. “We were passing the ball well and executing well offensively. We had too many unforced errors in games two and three. I was extremely proud of how the girls came out strong in game four. They played with enthusiasm and emotion and those were key to the comeback.”
In game one, the Hawks took their first lead at 13-12 and never relinquished it. Sioux Central led wire-to-wire in game two and at one point was up 22-13. With the third game knotted at 13-all, the Rebels went on a tear, outscoring HMS 12-2 to take the lead in the match.
The Hawks raced out to a 4-0 lead in game four and later held a 12-3 advantage. Sioux Central climbed back to within five at 15-10 but HMS regained control to force a fifth game. In that winner-take-all race to 15, the Hawks trailed 2-1 but rallied to go up 8-3. With the advantage trimmed to 11-9, HMS came out of a time out to put the Rebels away and secure a tourney victory.
Seniors Jasmine Lux and Emily Otto paced the Hawk attack with 14 and 13 kills respectively. Setting up the hitters was the third senior, Kaley Pearson, who contributed 20 assists.
Lux made a pair of solo blocks and assisted on another. For Otto it was one solo block and three assists. No fewer than five Hawks made major contributions in the digs department. Pearson and Abby Kunzman each collected 16 digs. Emily Haack and Emily Mutombo recorded 14 apiece and Abby Otto added another 10.
HMS missed just five of 97 serves and dished out 10 aces. Abby Otto and Pearson were each 18-of-18 at the service line and notched two aces and one ace respectively.

HMS Stats

Kills-Errors-Attempts (Kill Efficiency): Team 41-18-126 (.183), Kaley Pearson 5-0-19 (.263), Abby Kunzman 3-3-14 (.000), Emily Mutombo 0-1-2 (-.500), Jasmine Lux 14-4-30 (.333), Emily Otto 13-8-34 (.147), Abby Douma 4-0-9 (.444), Elise Haack 2-2-18 (.000).
Assists: Team 37, Pearson 20, Frankie Mohni 9, Kunzman 4, Haack 2, Douma, Abby Otto 1.
Digs: Team 75, Pearson, Kunzman 16, Haack, Emily Mutombo 14, A. Otto 10, Mohni 3, Douma 2.
Blocks: Team 12; Lux 2 solo, 1 assist; E. Otto 1 solo, 3 assists; Douma 1 solo, 1 assist; Pearson 3 assists.
Serving (Efficiency): Team 92-97 (.948) 10 aces, Pearson 18-18 (1.000) 1 ace, Kunzman 19-20 (.950) 2 aces, Mutombo 8-10 (.800) 1 ace, A. Otto 18-18 (1.000) 2 aces, Mohni 18-20 (.900) 3 aces, Haack 11-11 (1.000), 1 ace.