Coming off a physical four-set battle on Monday night, Aberdeen Roncalli was up to the challenge in a sweep over Milbank on Tuesday night.

The Cavaliers used aggressive serving and strong play across the court to secure a 25-17, 25-13, 25-16 Northeast Conference volleyball win at Roncalli Gym.

Roncalli coach Leesa Ware said the team focused on putting pressure on Milbank’s serve receive and forcing the Bulldogs out of system.

“I thought that our serving was really aggressive tonight,” Ware said. “One thing we definitely talked about was trying to get them out of system.”

Ware also noted that the team may have been feeling the effects of a long and intense match Monday night against Faulkton, but she was pleased with how the Cavaliers competed and took advantage of their opportunities.

The win also gave Roncalli a chance to get younger players involved. Ware said the team has plenty of young talent and confidence in its depth, allowing the Cavaliers to maintain their level of play when making substitutions.

“Getting a win (Monday) night and then tonight, two wins in a row just starting off the week is huge, especially on a busy week,” Ware said.

Junior outside hitter Jillian Ellwein also pointed to the team’s serving in the victory. She said the Cavaliers were able to stay in system, giving the team more opportunities to make plays offensively.

“I think our serving went well,” Ellwein said. “We really limited our errors, and we served really aggressive.”

Ellwein, who led the Cavaliers with 13 kills, added that the team knows areas of strength as well as what needs to be shored up as the regular season winds to a close.

“We know what we need to work on and what we did well,” Ellwein said, “which helps us prepare for the next game and helps us know what we need to work on in practice.”

Despite the loss, Milbank coach Mandy Snaza was encouraged by her team’s effort, particularly in the opening set. Snaza said the Bulldogs came ready to compete against a solid Roncalli team and was aggressive in serve receive while spreading the ball around offensively.

However, Roncalli found its rhythm in the second set and carried that through to the third to close out the sweep.

Snaza credited the Cavaliers for their ability to attack from sideline to sideline, which forced Milbank to adjust defensively. She was pleased with how her team regrouped in the final set and continued to execute its game plan.

“I was really impressed by Bailey Koepke and Haydyn Dunnihoo,” Snaza said, pointing to their blocking efforts.

She particularly pointed out Dunnihoo, a freshman, for her intensity and ability to read the ball at the net.

Snaza said Milbank knew it would need to find ways around Roncalli’s strong blocking presence and was happy with how the Bulldogs executed that part of their game plan.

Roncalli, now 19-5 on the season, will conclude a busy week of action with another NEC match at Deuel on Friday, before closing out the regular season by hosting Herreid-Selby Area on Tuesday.

Serving: Aberdeen Roncalli 7 aces (Cambry Feickert 3, Danica Zacher 2).

Hitting: Aberdeen Roncalli 34 kills (Jillian Ellwein 13, Grace Cogley 11, Gabby Thomas 6).

Setting: Aberdeen Roncalli 34 assists (Elyana Roach 32, Feickert 2).

Digs: Aberdeen Roncalli 25 (Feickert 13, Cogley 7, Ellwein 5).

Blocking: Aberdeen Roncalli 4 (Thomas 1 solo, Karsyn Davis assist, Cogley 1 assist).

Records: Milbank 9-15; Aberdeen Roncalli 19-5.