Lions finish 4th

MINOT — From the look of game 1 on Saturday, the Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock volleyball team wasn't fazed by a semifinal loss to Kindred.

But once Park River-Fordville-Lankin got past its sluggish start, Linton-HMB spent the rest of the match playing catch-up.

Kirsten Johnson pounded 19 kills and added 21 digs as the Aggies laid claim to third place at the Class B state tournament with a 12-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22 victory at the Minot State University Dome.

Both teams were hoping to rebound after having their run to the state championship match halted in different ways. Kindred swept Linton-HMB, while PR-F-L was up 2-0 on Langdon before allowing the Cardinals to rally and win the match.

"I think we were still disappointed about being so close," PR-F-L coach Sherry Currie said. "We talked about winning two matches here. Two is better than one."

Linton-HMB coach Jaime Richter said the Aggies shook off their semifinal hangover after the first game.

"They weren't quite there because of that loss, and we did a good job and made some good plays happen," Richter said. "The next set, they just adjusted and were ready to play."

After Linton-HMB's big win in game 1, PR-F-L controlled the second game, which was the only one of the four that Richter said lacked good play by her team.

The Lions tied the third game at 22, but Johnson had a kill and an ace in the final three points, as PR-F-L opened up a 2-1 lead. The third game featured a tie at 21 until the Aggies used a late run to end the match.

Linton-HMB sophomore Nicole Nieuwsma continued her strong tournament, posting 17 kills to finish with 45 for the tournament. McKenna Flyberg and Kaidra Larson each had seven kills in the loss.

The Lions started just one senior and return a majority of the team next year, when they'll be looking for a fifth straight trip to the state semifinals and their first state championship.

"If you would have told me at this time last year that'd we get fourth, I would have believed it," Richter said.

Park River-Fordville-Lankin 3,

Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock 1

PRFL 12 25 25 25

LHMB 25 17 22 22

PRFL - Kills, Kirsten Johnson 19, Taylor Lehar 8, Morgan Porter 8, Sadie Vold 7. Assists, Hannah Swartz 18, Carly Myrdal 17. Aces, Claire Welch, Lehar, Ashley Fontaine, Johnson. Blocks, Porter 2, Swartz 2. Digs, Vold 24, Johnson 21, Myrdal 18, Fontaine 11, Kendall Siebodnik 9.

LHMB - Kills, Nicole Nieuwsma 17, McKenna Flyberg 7, Kaidra Larson 7, Jadyn Gefroh 3, Tiffaney Gerving 2, Paulina Haak 2. Assists, Gerving 33, Kayla Jacob 1. Aces, Taryn Schlosser 4, Jessica Schlosser 2, Gerving 1. Blocks, Gefroh 5, Larson 3, Gerving 2, Flyberg 2, Nieuwsma 1, Taylor Beck 1, Haak 1. Digs, Flyberg 36, Schlosser 25, Nieuwsma 15, Gerving 11, Jacob 10, Larson 5, Gefroh 4, Haak 2, Beck 1, T. Schlosser 1.

Sun sportswriter Chris Aarhus can be reached by at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: class b, sports, volleyball