By Terry Vandrovec
It was as if beating Perham wasn't a big deal anymore.
Not only was the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton volleyball team flat Thursday night, the school's maintenance personnel didn't bother to pull out every section of bleachers, and even the gym lights seemed dimmer than usual.
Apparently, between being the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in Minnesota Class 2A and facing an aggressive schedule, the Rebels' match against the young Yellowjackets got lost in the emotional shuffle.
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D-G-F won 25-21, 25-20, 25-22, but its second victory over Class 3A Perham in Jean Lopez's 23 seasons as head coach sure didn't feel as good as the first.
"We played well enough to win tonight," said Lopez, whose club ended its rival's 18-year run as Heart O' Lakes Conference champs last fall, "and that was about all."
Playing seven sophomores and sporting a sub-.500 record, the Yellowjackets (5-8, 3-2 HOL) got 17 kills from the frontline combo of Tiffany Schroeer and reserve Haley Frost. They led by at least two in each set and were within 22-20, 23-20 and 20-20, respectively.
"I was a little disappointed that our kids didn't dig in and get a little hungry at the end of those games; we were in every game," Perham coach Dan Christenson said. "But that's when we had mental errors, we had hitting errors, service errors, and you're going to get those things with a young team. ... Hopefully we can inspire those kids to play with the enthusiasm that D-G-F does."
The enthusiasm that D-G-F (12-1, 5-0) usually shows, that is.
"I was disappointed that our kids didn't have the "fire" at the end of each game to finish," Christenson added. "I was hoping to see them a bit "hungrier" for the win."
Even the statistical star of the night, Rebels junior Jennifer Lopez, was less than thrilled with anything except the outcome. In addition to dishing 15 assists, she tallied 21 kills, three shy of Perham's team total, leaving her two shy of 1,000 for her career. The feat would have made the match more memorable.
Tournament Saturday
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The Jackets will host their annual invite this Saturday at Prairie Wind Gymnasium and at the PACC. The 12 teams will include: Perham, Melrose, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Climax-Fisher, Hawley, Roseau, Fosston, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, D-G-F and Underwood.
Pool play begins at 9 a.m. Final rounds start at 2 p.m. with the championship scheduled for 4 p.m at Prairie Wind Gymnasium.
TUESDAY UPDATE
Frazee gave Perham all they could handle Tuesday night, but the Jackets were able to come away with a 3-1 win in the 'Battle of the Bees'.
"We played just well enough to win," head coach Dan Christenson said. It could have gone either way."
Perham was barely able to hang on in game one, edging the Hornets 27-25.
Frazee was able to come back in game two, winning 25-22.
The Jackets had an easier time in game three, winning 25-13, but had to hold off a late Frazee charge in game four before winning, 25-23.
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"Frazee played well," Christenson said. "They kept the ball in play and didn't give up defensively. Scrappy defense creates inspired offense."
Tiffany Schroeer led the Jackets with 15 kills and nine blocks. Tara Sailer played well against her former teammates with outstanding back-row play, recording 27 digs and putting 10 serves into play.
Tuesday, October 3
Perham 3, Frazee 1
(27-25, 22-25, 25-13, 25-23)
Jackets
Kills--Tiffany Schroeer 15, Haley Frost 10, Kayla Speicher 8
Blocks--Schroeer 9, Speicher 1
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Digs--Tara Sailer 27, Mallory Malikowski 12, Speicher 12, Brandi Cresap 12.
Assists--Rachel Pfeffer 30, Malikowski 5
Aces--Speicher 2
Jackets: 6-8 (4-2 HOL)
