STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis Scooper Volleyball team honored their eight seniors on Tuesday night, Sept. 8 before the match against Custer and then took the court and dominated the Wildcats in three sets, 25-18, 25-20 and 25-18.
Sturgis seniors Brinley Pickett, Elizabeth Ortiz, Makayla Keffeler, Jillian Beck, Morgan Phillips, Ella Johnson, Kylee Wolter and Olivia Vollmer were recognized prior to the match on Senior Night. Each senior was given an action portrait, courtesy of Tim Potts Photography, and honored with their family members at center court.
The Scoopers started slow in set one and were down to Custer 17-12 midway through the set. Sturgis head coach Debbie Cano called a time out to slow the Wildcat momentum. The Scoopers responded with 10 straight points and led 22-17 before Custer scored to halt the Sturgis run. Ortiz finished off the Wildcats with excellent serving and the Scoopers took set one, 25-18.
Sturgis jumped out to a quick lead in the second set before Custer tied things up at eight points apiece. Wildcat sophomore setter Allie Cass kept Custer alive with a serve that gave the Sturgis back line trouble throughout the set. The Scoopers took a 20-18 lead on an ace by Ortiz before a Sturgis mistake at the net gave Custer a point to help the Wildcats close the gap at 20-19. Vollmer pounded an ace through the Custer defense and Beck scored a kill at the net to give Sturgis a 24-20 lead. Keffeler ended the match on a devastating kill to give the Scoopers a 25-20 win in set two.
Sturgis and Custer traded leads throughout the third set before the Scoopers took a 20-16 lead late in the set. Wildcat head coach Jill Hohn called a time out of her own to slow down the Sturgis offense but the Scoopers would not be denied in front of a big home crowd. A big block at the net by Ortiz and accurate serving by Keffeler allowed Sturgis to extend their lead to 24-18. Junior middle hitter Kaylee Whatley ended the match on an authoritative spike to give the Scoopers the sweep, three sets to zero.
The Scoopers were led by Makayla Keffeler with 10 kills, one block and one ace. Brinley Pickett added seven kills and three assists, Elizabeth Ortiz had six kills, one block and five aces, and Joellen Cano chipped in 11 assists, two kills and four aces. The win moves the Scoopers up to #9 in Class AA seed points, just a point behind the Harrisburg Tigers.
Custer sophomore Allie Cass had eight aces and one kill, Sydney Gaulke added five kills, one block, one ace and one dig. The Wildcats fall to 4-4 on the season.
Sturgis, 2-2, faces Rapid City Stevens at home in their next scheduled match on Tuesday, Sept. 15. First serve commences at 7pm.
