The Lady Patriots participated in the 281 Conference Tournament on Saturday. The first match of the day featured the Patriots taking on the Spartans from Wessington Springs. The first set was all the Patriots as they came out hitting, serving, and passing strong and they never looked back as they took the first set by a score of 25-18. The tide turned against the Patriots in the 2nd and 3rd set. In both sets, the Patriots found themselves down big and managed to work their way back into the sets, but ultimately it was all the Spartans. The Patriots dropped sets 2 and 3 by scores of 23-25 and 22-25. Leading the way for the Patriots was Katelyn Schroeder with 19 kills. Ella Johnson chipped in with 6 kills. At the service line, Shandi Chasing Hawk led the team with 5 aces. Chasing Hawk also had 27 assists. Defensively, Schroeder and Brooklyn Frankenstein had a big match with each of them recording 26 and 21 digs respectively. Danielle Nowell also came up with 12 digs in the match.
The Lady Patriots then found them in the consolation bracket playing Iroquois-Doland. Even though the Patriots faced them a little over week earlier, the Patriots made quick work of the Chiefs, by taking the match 2-0, by the sets scores of 25-15 and 25-17. Leading the way was Schroeder with 7 kills. Madison Hofer follower with 4 kills and then three different players with 3 kills. At the service line, the team recorded 6 aces. Chasing Hawk led the team with 16 assists. Defensively, Schroeder had 9 digs and Frankenstein had 7.
In the final match of the day (the consolation championship), the Patriots took on the James Valley Christian Vikings. The first set started out well, as the Patriots found the open spots on the floor and found a way to score. They took the first set 25-20. In set 2, the Patriots couldn't get much going as errors built up and it was all the JVC Vikings. The Vikings took set two 25-15. In set three, the Patriots found themselves against the wall as they were down late in the set. Ella Johnson served well to get he Patriots back in it and tied the set up at 22-22. Errors proved to be costly as the set and match ended on two Patriot errors, and the final score of set 3 was 25-22. Schroeder led the team with 15 kills. Chasing Hawk dished out 21 assists. Danielle Nowell, Ellan Johnson, and Chasing Hawk each recorded 2 aces each. Schroeder led the team with 15 digs. Nowell and Bethany Wiebe also had a big match defensively as they each recorded 12 digs each. Hofer and Frankenstein also came up with 10 digs each.
The Patriots (9-11) are going to be looking to turn it around as they open up a tough two match homestand this week. They will take on one of the top ranked teams in Class B, the Warner Monarchs, on Tuesday (10/5) night, with the Jr. High beginning at 4:30. Then on Thursday (10/7), the Patriots will play the Miller Rustlers for the annual Pink Night matchup. Once again, Jr. High will begin at 4:30. Both games will be in Tulare. We hope to see everyone there!