RAPID CITY – Clark-Willow Lake got back to its comfort zone and got back to its winning ways on Friday morning during the State A Volleyball Tournament.

The Cyclones bounced back from a first-round setback to sweep Wagner 25-23, 28-26, 25-16 in consolation action at The Monument.

“We definitely played more of our speed, how we play. You know, we executed where we needed to,” said Cyclones coach Betty McGraw. “The girls were definitely more relaxed. It wasn’t this big, huge scary thing. We did what we needed to do today.”

Clark-Willow Lake jumped out to a 14-8 lead forcing a timeout from Wagner. The early advantage helped the Cyclones to settle in even more.

“It’s something we’ve been trying to improve on and focus on all season, but we finally got it today. You just can almost take a little bit of a breath,” McGraw said. “Not completely, just a little bit of a breath when you have that little bit of a lead, and then then those girls just relax. And then we just get more into our rhythm.”

Zoe Nichols seemed to be comfortable from her setter position as she found herself with three kills in the first set, all dumps in the open court.

“Usually, I don’t get kills you know. The setter just sets the ball up, but that was pretty exciting,” Nichols said. “I just look for the open spot. If I can get that ball back over and help us reset, then I just like to do that.”

When Nichols is in rhythm, she helps set the rest of the team up for success, whether that be setting the ball, or getting blocks.

“She does so good on the right side for us. Both ways, she can block, she can set, and she can swing, so she’s huge for our offense,” said McGraw. “When she’s on point, we’re all on point and it just takes us to the next level.”

The Cyclones had set point at 24-23 in the first set and were looking to close it out without going into extra points. Wagner would not go quietly, pushing the Cyclones to one of the longest rallies of the tournament. Clark-Willow Lake was able to secure the point and the set as Calla Larson produced the winning kill.

“That was the girls just persevering. We practice long sets in practice and just really staying focused, not giving up,” said McGraw. “We’re definitely a scrappy team and the girls will lay out for a ball. So, it was good to see that and then to grab that point and to have Calla Larson pull that point for us it was really good.”

Wagner raced out to an 8-2 lead to start the second set. The Cyclones answered back and when Kelsey Hofer racked up four straight kills, the set was soon tied at 9-9.

“It was definitely flow state. My team was really good at communicating with spots that are open and I just had to try and execute those as best as I can,” Hofer said. “I feel like with the energy that we had, we really just needed to push and everybody had that mindset of we’re gonna win.”

Being on the shorter side for a right side hitter, Hofer makes up for the lost inches with her vertical.

“I definitely make up for it in my jumping. I work in the offseason all the time for my jumps and just reading the ball,” Hofer said. “But you just gotta play it smart when you’re not as tall.”

And she does have a high knowledge of the sport, according to McGraw.

“She’s an unbelievably great athlete. Her vertical is amazing, but her volleyball IQ is even higher,” McGraw said. “She can put the ball where we ask her, and she can read the court as well.”

After winning the first two sets by two points each, the Cyclones knew they had to keep their energy and use the momentum to close out the third set.

“Keep our energy up. Definitely. I think that’s probably the biggest thing we have,” said Nichols.

The Cyclones pulled away from a 7-6 lead to start the set and never relinquished it to complete the sweep.

“That’s what we talked about before going into that game. … no lulls in the game. No giving up three, four points in a row,” McGraw said. “Just execute and finish what we started, and they did just that, so that was amazing.”

After an opening-round loss to Hamlin, McGraw said the Cyclones have a new goal: consolation champs. They will face St. Thomas More for fifth place around 12:45 p.m. (MST) today.

“Definitely with our new goal, I think this is the best spot that we could be in,” Hofer said. “We can really win and go out with a bang on our last two games.”

Serving: Clark-Willow Lake 2 aces (Zoey Helkenn 1, Shelby Begeman 1); Wagner 2 aces (Braxton Nedved 1, Brianna Fuchs 1).

Hitting: Clark-Willow Lake 40 kills (Begeman 14, Hofer 11, Ella Sass 5); Wagner 20 kills (Hanna Holzbauer 8, Ashlyn Koupal 5).

Setting: Clark-Willow Lake 37 assists (Nichols 28); Wagner 31 assists (Nedved 27).

Digs: Clark-Willow Lake 59 (Kadee Frankfurth 22, Hofer 10, Helkenn 9); Wagner 57 (Libby Kotab 19, Holzbauer 17)

Blocks: Clark-Willow Lake 9 total (Begeman 3 solo 2 assisted, Sass 2 solo 1 assisted, Eliza Larson 1 solo 1 assisted); Wagner 2.

Records: Clark-Willow Lake 26-2; Wagner 24-9.