Sara Hegerle and the Blue Jays were looking at the big picture following Tuesday's loss at Bismarck Century.
Jamestown High School ended its volleyball regular season falling 3-0 to the conference champion Patriots. But the Jays entered the match having won five straight in the West Region, placing the team in great position to get back to the state volleyball tournament for a fourth time in five seasons.
Hegerle isn't anticipating that the team's first road loss in conference play in 2016 will disrupt that momentum. Century, who finished a perfect 18-0 in West Region play, took the match 25-17, 25-14, 25-22.
"It's unfortunate timing to end the season playing Century, because our kids have been playing so well," Hegerle said. "But it's not the end of our season, and I don't think anybody feels terrible."
Jamestown (25-12 overall) was able to pester the the defending state champion Patriots defensively, but the Blue Jays were only able to mount 29 kills on .064 percent hitting. Junior libero Hannah Schiele was busy, posting 29 of Jamestown's 93 digs.
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"We played well at times, which the scores don't really indicate," Hegerle said. "Our defense was right where we wanted it to be. (Century) was pounding the ball at us, and they were getting frustrated.
"But Century has so many weapons. They are solid at every position on the court, and we have to be firing on all cylinders to be able to beat them."
The Blue Jays notched just two ace serves in the match. Junior setter Megan Gaffaney collected 22 assists, while Courtney Peterson (8) and Mackenzie Clark (8) teamed up for 16 of Jamestown's 29 kills.
Emily Andersen (17), Alyssa Ukestad (13) and Gaffaney (11) all hit double figures as well in the digs department.
The Blue Jays finished the regular season third in the West at 14-4. Jamestown will face Mandan (16-21 overall) in the quarterfinals of the West Region tournament on Nov. 10 in Minot.
Jamestown swept Mandan 3-0 at home on Oct. 25. Bismarck Legacy (30-8, 15-3 West) dispatched Bismarck High 3-2 on Tuesday night to finish second in the conference standings.
"We know we've played some solid volleyball the last few weeks," Hegerle said. "Now we have to go into the West Region with a good mindset and be ready to start a new season."
Bismarck Century 3, Jamestown 0
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Jamestown 17 14 22
Century 25 25 25
Jamestown statistics
Aces: Hannah Schiele 1, Megan Gaffaney 1. Kills: Mackenzie Clark 8, Courtney Peterson 8, McKayla Kurtz 6, Alyssa Ukestad 2, Haley Hillstrom 2, Schiele 1, Emily Andersen 1, Genna Bruns 1. Assists: Gaffaney 22, Schiele 2. Digs: Schiele 29, Andersen 17, Ukestad 13, Gaffaney 11, Olivia Nihill 9, Kurtz 5, Bruns 4, Hillstrom 2, Jordan Paulson 2, Peterson 1. Blocks: Peterson .5, Kurtz .5.
Records: Century 35-2, 18-0 West Region; Jamestown 25-12, 14-4 West Region.
