REBELS VOLLEYBALL FINISH REGULAR

The MCC Rebel Volleyball team played their final game of the regular season on Thursday night in Pipestone. The Rebels were looking to pick up one of their biggest wins in non conference play this season. The Arrows, who lost a tough match to WWG a week earlier, had swept HLOF on Tuesday. The Rebels were looking to end the regular season strong, heading into the playoffs against the 3rd seed in Subsection 3A South.

The MCC Rebels got off to a great start, jumping out fast against the Arrows. The Rebels have not been one of the best starting teams this season but when they do start strong, it changes the game. Kat Miller and the Rebel front line did a nice job of blocking and disrupting the Arrow offense. That allowed the Rebels to be more aggressive on offense. Reese Gilbertson and Suttyn Schryvers picked up big kills. Erynn Rohrer had a big cross court kill late in set one as the Rebels picked up the win 25-23.

The second set was much like set one. MCC started strong with Schryvers getting good swings off some nice passes by the Rebel setters. The MCC offense forced the Arrows to try and keep the ball alive but it led to some poor passes and the Rebels took advantage. The MCC took set 2, 25 to 21 with Reese Gilbertson tipping in the game winner to put the Rebels up 2 sets to none.

The third set, momentum turned in favor of the Arrows. Pipestone got off to a good start, taking an early lead in the game. MCC would tie the game up in the middle portion of the game, but the Arrows extended their lead and though Suttyn Schryvers got a pair of kills to lead the Rebels back in contention, the Arrows blocking, led by Emerson Smidt got them the win in set 3, 25 to 18.

The Arrows kept rolling into the 4th set, riding their momentum from set 3. Taryn Tuinstra was hitting well for the Arrows, connecting on one kill after another and MCC didn’t have an answer, especially when Jadyn Kor started to give the Arrows some balance. The biggest factor for the Arrows was the defense and the block that took away what looked like great scoring chances. The Arrows would win the set 25 to 18 to send the game to set 5.

The teams headed to the final set. MCC scored the first two points of the set, but the Arrows did not back down. The Rebels made a couple of costly mistakes and the Arrows kept balls in play. Tuinstra dropped in her 20 and 21st kills as the Arrows pulled away. With the Arrows at 14 points and set point MCC managed to score three points to make the score 14-11 but the Arrows prevailed, 15-11, winning the game 3 sets to 2.

The Rebels were led by Suttyn Schryvers with 13 kills, while Kate Blankenship added 8. But it wasn’t enough to combat Tuinstra and Kor, who combined for 34 kills between the duo. Kat Miller had some nice plays at the net early in the game but in the end, too many mistakes cost the Rebels. MCC finished the regular season 12 and 10 and now head into the playoffs. The Rebels are the 5th seed in Sub-Section 3A South and will play at Okabena against the HLOF Coyotes Friday night at 7:00 pm.