CLEAR LAKE – It took a few points for Aberdeen Roncalli to get started, but once the Cavaliers got rolling they were in control on the way to winning their 20th match of the season Friday night.
Roncalli defeated Deuel 25-18, 25-11, 25-22 in Northeast Conference volleyball action to improve to 20-5 on the season in its final regular-season road action.
The Cavaliers fell behind 4-0 to start the match, but then reeled off 10 unanswered points to set the tone for the rest of the evening.
“We are typically a slow starting team until we find our rhythm and get settled,” said Roncalli coach Leesa Ware. “I thought our serve receive and serving was very strong tonight.”
The Cavaliers closed the first set strong and then dominated the second set. However, the Cardinals made things interesting in the third set, leading 14-12 at one stage. Roncalli then went on a 9-3 surge for a lead it never lost on the way closing out the match.
“Deuel has a couple tall, power hitters that gave us some problems,” Ware said, “but our blockers did a good job of getting numerous touches to slow the ball down.”
Jillian Ellwein had four aces and 14 kills to lead the Cavaliers. Karsyn Davis contributed 10 kills, while Elyana Roach had 28 set assists, and Cambry Feickert finished with 31 digs.
Camdyn Peterreins and Alyana Carlson each had eight kills for Deuel, and Lauryn Peterreins added six.
Roncalli, 20-5 on the campaign, hosts Herreid-Selby Area on Tuesday at Roncalli Gym to close out the regular season before competing in the Region 1A tournament the following week.
Serving: Aberdeen Roncalli 13 aces (Jillian Ellwein 4, Grace Cogley 3, Cambry Feickert 2); Deuel 4 aces (Sophie Trupe 2, Aubrey Lanners 1, Mataylah Pope 1 ace).
Hitting: Aberdeen Roncalli 38 kills (Ellwein 14, Karsyn Davis 10, Gabby Thomas 6); Deuel 24 kills (Camdyn Peterreins 8, Alayna Carlson 8, Lauryn Peterreins 6).
Setting: Aberdeen Roncalli 33 assists (Elyana Roach 28, Feickert 4); Deuel 23 assists (Lanners 22).
Digs: Aberdeen Roncalli 82 (Feickert 31, Ellwein 15, Cogley 10); Deuel 55 (Trupe 12, L. Peterreins 9, Pope 8).
Blocks: Deuel 4 (C. Peterreins 2 solo 2 assists, Lennix Adler 2 assists).
Records: Aberdeen Roncalli 20-5; Deuel 10-12.
