By Alan Van Ormer
Tribune editor

Aggressive play at the net and solid serving at key points during the match sparked Dell Rapids to a 25-16, 25-21 and 25-21 win over Beresford in high school volleyball action at Beresford High School on Oct. 26.
Outside hitter Danielle Schuch said Beresford looked good when they saw the Watchdogs play Sioux Falls Christian during the Big Sioux Conference Tournament. “We were looking forward to last night’s game,” she said. “We had been working real hard at practice to be more aggressive at the net. Last night, the work we put in at practice showed.”
Schuch said serving was a key in the win. “We focus on our serves (in practice) making sure they are consistent,” she said. “During a game it is important to get the serve over.”
Coach Dale Solberg said controlling the net and the team’s serving was the key. He was also pleased with Shelby Bierema, who had 18 kills and with the back row.
“The back row did a nice job setting up our offense,” he said.
However, Solberg was not pleased with the number of balls that were falling next to the net on the Quarriers side. “You can’t do that,” he said. “You can’t give away free points.”
In the first game, Kristi Hoffman broke open a tight game with her serving. The Quarriers were able to score seven straight points during her serving to build a 9-3 lead. Dell Rapids scored the 25th point when a Beresford serve hit the net.
Again in the second game, Dell Rapids used Hoffman’s serving and Bierema’s three kills to break open a tight game and pull out to an 8-3 lead. However, this time the Watchdogs battled back and narrowed the gap to 21-18.
Bierema came away with a deep hit that score a point. Hannah Hammer took the serve and the Quarriers were able to score the 23rd point, but not without a solid net performance by Emily Kerns and Danielle Schuch. The duo blocked a first Beresford shot, but the Watchdogs came right back at the net and Kerns was able to block a second attack to score the point.
On the 24th point, a Beresford serve hit the net and Hoffman clinched the victory with a right-handed tip that found an opening in the Watchdog defense for the 25th point.
The third game was much closer. The two teams battled evenly throughout the match. Dell Rapids built a four-point lead, 22-18, but Beresford battled back to cut it to 22-20 and then 23-21. Again, Beresford’s serve hit the net for the 24th Dell Rapids point. The Quarriers won the game when a Beresford attacker hit the ball too hard and it went out of bounds.
Along with her 18 kills, Bierema had 10 digs. Hoffman had 15 set assists and had 16 points, including four aces. Hammer contributed six kills and two blocks, while Karlie Solum had 12 digs and seven service points, including two aces. Kerns had two blocks.
Solberg said in that third game the team was struggling. “We were playing more defensive,” he said. He said when the Quarriers were struggling with their passes it allowed Beresford to be more aggressive at the net.
Schuch said it felt good to beat Beresford in three games. “We thought it would be a more difficult contest than it was,” she said.
Overall, Schuch said the season has gone well. “We are working well as a team,” she said. “We are looking forward to districts.”
Dell Rapids opened district play at Garretson on Tuesday evening. Complete results will be in the Nov. 11 issue of the Dell Rapids Tribune.