Aberdeen Central’s Grace Kuch, center, tries to hit the ball past Brookings’ Gracey Sheridan, right, during Tuesday night’s match at the Golden Eagles Arena. Looking on are Central’s Sydney Evans, far left and Madi Struble, left. In the foreground for Brookings is Sydney Bebensee. Photo by John Davis taken 8/23/2022
It was an admittedly forgettable start to the season for the Aberdeen Central volleyball program.
The Golden Eagles dropped the opening set of the 2022 campaign by a 25-13 margin to the visiting Bobcats of Brookings, but rebounded to win the next three and held on for a 13-25, 25-21, 25-9, 25-21 match win at Golden Eagles Arena Tuesday night.
“It was a slow start,” said Central coach Jackie Bindenagel. “But we got our offense rolling a little bit and came together at the end.”
Central struggled to find a rhythm in the opening stanza, falling behind 6-1 early and never really regaining its footing.
The Golden Eagles turned the tables in the second set, however, jumping out to an early 10-5 lead, then rattling off the final four points of the set after Brookings had rallied for a late 21-all tie.
Ayrlie Waldo had a pair of aces in that stretch, and Leah Gough finished off the set with one of her 10 kills on the night.
“We just didn’t communicate very well in the first set,” Bindenagel said. “We got that figured out and sped up our offense.”
Central blew through the third set, aided largely by a bevy of Bobcat errors, then fended off another late rally by Brookings in the fourth to hold on for the win.
In addition to Gough’s effort at the net, Central got 14 kills from Grace Kuch and seven more from Madi Struble. Waldo finished with three aces and 27 assists. Sydney Evans had 21 digs to lead Central’s defensive effort.
“A win is a win,” Bindenagel said. “We’re going to take it. We’ll get back in the gym. We have a lot to work on right now.”
Central will host Rapid City Central Friday in a 7 p.m. match at Golden Eagles Arena. Rapid City Stevens will visit Saturday. That match is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Aberdeen Civic Arena.