Volleyball upsets Rapid City Christian

The Hill City Rangers volleyball team put on a master class and defeated the Rapid City Christian Comets 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 27-25) in a match on Oct. 8.

The Comets had one loss heading into the game and had defeated the Rangers earlier in a tournament; however, the Rangers came out to play that night.

“We know whenever we go into matches against Rapid City Christian, it will be good competition and anticipate battles in multiple sets,” said Rangers head coach Lindsy Wathen. “We were happy to get it done in three this time. The girls had worked hard preparing and executed what they’ve been working on defensively and offensively in practice well.”

Leading the way for the Rangers was senior Hailey Wathen, who had 10 kills, nine digs, three aces and one block. Fellow senior Dale Schrier contributed eight kills, two blocks and one dig. Sophomore Macey Wathen added six kills, nine digs, one ace and one block while junior Abby Siemonsma contributed with 16 assists, nine digs, one ace and one kill.

Gins Gym was packed that night, with the student section out in full force. The gym, for a lack of better word, was rocking. Every time the Rangers got a point the noise was near deafening.

In the first set, it started off back and forth with neither team getting much separation. The Comets lead 11-14 when the tide started to shift for the Rangers. Eighth grader Addison Barber got an ace to tie the first game up at 14-14. The Comets got the next point, but the momentum had turned quickly to the Rangers. The Rangers went on to get the next four points, forcing the Comets to call a time out. But out of the timeout, the Rangers put  the pedal to the metal and closed out the first set 25-20.

The second set started out on a 3-0 Rangers run, forcing the Comets to call their second timeout. To make the game 12-6, Hailey Wathen spiked the ball, which was followed by a huge fist pump. It was 21-13 when the Comets went on a little run, but the Rangers stayed the course and closed out the second set 25-19.

The third set was, inarguably, the most exciting set of all.

It was close to start off the set, but then the Rangers pulled ahead 7-4, once again forcing Rapid City Christian to use a timeout. The game got tied at 12-12, forcing Hill City to use a timeout.

Out of the timeout, the teams traded points, but it looked like the Comets were going to pull away and force a fourth set. The game was at 19-22 when Hill City called another timeout.

Rapid City Christian got the first point out of the timeout to make the game 19-23, but then the Rangers went on to get the next three points to make the game 22-23, which force the Comets to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Rapid City Christian got the next point to make it 22-23, but then the Rangers got the next two points to tie the game at 24-24. An explosion of noise went out across the gym when the game got tied.

Rapid City Christian got the next point to make the game 24-25, but then Hill City quickly countered and won the game by a sore of 27-25 in straight sets.