MAAA Tournament: Bismarck reaches 30 wins again; SG ousts No. 3 seed Farmington
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Bismarck sophomore Ayla Hawkins (14) attacks from the middle as both Halie Dickey (10) and Kinsey Hubbs (5) look on during game one of an MAAA Tournament Pool D volleyball match against North County on Tuesday night in Bismarck. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
By MATT KING
BISMARCK – Ashley Hawkins, Kinsey Hubbs and Halie Dickey have anchored Bismarck volleyball toward consecutive 30-win seasons for the first time in program history.
Following a dazzling performance Tuesday night against adjacent seed North County, the three current seniors will finally grace the Gold Bracket of the MAAA Tournament.
The Lady Indians were especially dominant around the middle of the net, and captured Pool D as the No. 4 seed in a 25-12, 25-14 runaway.
Hubbs served six aces with particular placement – three in a row during each set – and distributed 19 assists while Ashley Hawkins notched eight kills and a team-high eight digs.
Ayla Hawkins equaled her sister with eight kills, and Bismarck advanced to a showdown with No. 1 seed Potosi on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Olivia Scherffius returned to the lineup with five outside kills, and Megan Reed made 10 assists as North County struggled to curtail the versatile opposing attack.
North County defensive specialist Adrean Aubuchon (15) digs a Bismarck attack as middle hitter Paisley Benton (11) and Macie Peterson (33) react during game one of an MAAA Tournament Pool D volleyball match on Tuesday night in Bismarck. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Ayla Hawkins angled from the middle, and Halie Dickey tapped a shot down the line before Loryn Pierson executed her second solo block for a 13-7 separation in game one.
Hubbs dumped a second ball safely after one of six digs by Karlee Dickey, then unleashed three aces for a comfortable 20-8 lead. Her next trifecta highlighted a 4-0 start to game two.
Although North County reduced its errors moving forward, Bismarck prevented long rallies with crisp offense and 16 kills within its first 22 points of the stanza.
Scherffius forged a 5-5 tie on a compact swings after sharing a double block with Paisley Benton, and Addison Aubuchon landed three kills during a progression across the front row.
Ayla Hawkins protected an 8-7 edge for Bismarck from the right side, and combined with Ashley Hawkins for 11 kills in game two as the margin ballooned to 20-11.
Pierson accounted for five kills and Halie Dickey provided four.
Adrean Aubuchon and Reese Tiefenauer had five digs each for the Lady Raiders, who moved into a Silver Bracket pairing with Central on Wednesday.
Kingston earlier fell 25-14, 25-15 to Bismarck and 25-13, 25-9 against North County.
Ste. Genevieve crashed the Gold Bracket by topping No. 3 seed Farmington 30-28, 26-24 in a chaotic clash, and avenged a straight-set loss from the regular season.
Emma Gegg totaled 13 kills and 19 digs while Emme Browne added five kills, 12 digs, seven assists and four service aces. Aleah Filer provided three blocks and four kills.
The Dragons got five kills and 11 assists from Emma Jokerst, and meets Valle Catholic on Thursday in the semifinals at Potosi. Lilah Nix picked up nine digs, and Ally Gegg dished out 10 assists.
Farmington routed Valley 25-12, 25-6 in an earlier contest after Ste. Genevieve cruised past the Lady Vikings 25-12, 25-11.
Filer shined on the front row with seven kills and four blocks, and Jokerst amassed three blocks, three kills and 12 assists. Browne landed six kills and Emma Gegg had five kills with eight digs.
Morgan Winch served two aces for the Dragons, who entered as the sixth seed after graduating most of last year’s title squad.
Large-School division champion Potosi secured home-court advantage for championship evening after surviving a rocky first game against Central to prevail 26-24, 25-13.
The top-seeded Lady Trojans closed Pool A action with a 25-20, 25-17 victory over Fredericktown, and will seek their first title at the event since 1993.
The lone three-set contest of round one settled second place in that pool. Two stanzas required extra points, and Central clipped Fredericktown 27-25, 20-25, 19-17 after capturing both.
Valle Catholic likewise encountered an upset bid by Arcadia Valley, and escaped a grueling opening game to control Pool B in a 26-24, 25-16 outcome.
The Lady Warriors have placed runner-up in each of the last to years, and blitzed West County 25-3, 25-10 in the first leg of the tri-match.
Arcadia Valley also beat West County 25-22, 25-17, and booked a Silver Bracket matchup against Farmington following the North County-Central match on Wednesday.
Bismarck setter Kinsey Hubbs rescues a wide pass during game one of an MAAA Tournament Pool D volleyball match against North County on Tuesday night in Bismarck. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
North County senior Megan Reed (5) sets with middle hitter Paisley Benton nearby during game one of an MAAA Tournament Pool D volleyball match against Bismarck on Tuesday night in Bismarck. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
North County outside hitter Olivia Scherffius attacks against Bismarck during game two of an MAAA Tournament Pool D volleyball match on Tuesday night in Bismarck. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Bismarck outside hitter Britney Theiss (27) serves to North County during game one of an MAAA Tournament Pool D volleyball match on Tuesday night in Bismarck. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
