Bismarck survives match point, tops Leopold in playoff classic
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The Bismarck volleyball team poses for photos after defeating Leopold in a five-set Class 1 state sectional match on Thursday night in Leopold, Mo. (Submitted Photo, Bismarck Athletics)
By MATT KING
LEOPOLD, Mo. – Ayla Hawkins could only cheer as an injured teammate when Bismarck concluded last volleyball season with an intense five-set heartbreaker on the road.
The sophomore middle hitter seized a heroic opportunity on Thursday night after older sister Ashley Hawkins saved a match point with two desperate and steady digs.
Ayla Hawkins spiked the tying and go-ahead kills during a riveting Class 1 sectional marathon, and the Lady Indians edged Leopold 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 24-26, 16-14.
Bismarck (36-3) appeared rattled for a brief stretch as the Wildcats jumped ahead 6-2 in game five with an energetic crowd echoing loudly throughout the cozy gymnasium.
But a pivotal progression across the front yielded three kills by Ayla Hawkins, who forged a 7-7 tie on a pinpoint fading set from senior Kinsey Hubbs.
Leopold (27-8-2) relied heavily on two outside hitters for offensive production, and used a remarkable 34 kills from junior Rylie Shreiner to approach the precipice of the finish line.
She blistered a back-row spike at an angle to paint the sideline, and Leopold restored an 11-8 lead on a failed clearing attempt by the Lady Indians.
But sophomore libero Karlee Dickey regrouped from an error to make two sliding stops on a winning rally, then passed for a tying smash by Loryn Pierson at 12-12.
A forward diving save by Leopold libero Rylie Hutchings – one of many improbable plays executed in spectacular fashion – enabled Schreiner to regain the lead.
But the decisive stanza showcased the depth of Bismarck with contributions all over the floor. Britney Theiss alertly pushed a deflected ball back over the net for a tying kill.
Schreiner connected again from the left side, and had the potential victory on her hand when the Lady Indians surrendered a free ball.
But Theiss leaped to slow the initial attack toward Ashley Hawkins, who then stopped a scorching hit with perfect touch on an overhead pass.
Ayla Hawkins calmly landed her next two swings while her sister stonewalled another shot, and the Lady Indians instead celebrated an exhausting win on a hitting error by Schreiner, who switched to the right side in a surprising move that backfired during the last two points.
Ashley Hawkins finished with 23 kills, 29 digs and two aces. Hubbs amassed a career-high 55 assists with 10 digs, and chased down a pass near the bench to clear early in game five.
Halie Dickey covered numerous attacks toward the corners while providing 25 digs, and knocked down 12 kills while serving three aces in triumph.
Bismarck increased its school record for wins in a single season, and will travel to Gideon (32-3) on Saturday for a coveted spot in the final four.
The scoring punch was spread among four hitters with double-digit kills. Ayla Hawkins ended with 19 plus two blocks, and Pierson planted 13 kills.
Leopold delivered the first comeback statement despite taking a 10-9 lead when Cara Wiseman served an ace on the heels of her second-ball spike in game one.
Ashley Hawkins registered a block off an effective short serve, then tipped for a kill before slamming another chance to the floor as the Lady Indians moved ahead 16-11.
Schreiner ignited the Wildcats with eight kills in game one, and setter Ashtyn Van de Ven turned to demolish a second ball with no blocking presence nearby for a 23-22 lead.
Halie Dickey raced to pass an errant serve reception as Bismarck dodged an initial set point, but Van de Ven pounced when an overpass drifted toward her along the right side.
Van de Ven totaled 47 assists, 11 digs and eight kills as a versatile weapon, and senior Piper Lincoln bolstered Leopold with 14 kills, 10 digs and a match-high four aces.
Bismarck countered with a 9-2 start to game two, getting a kill and ace from Ashley Hawkins on back-to-back points before Grace Randazzo bumped an assist to Ayla Hawkins.
The Wildcats won an incredible exchange that spanned more than a minute when Hutchings dived to the corner and Brenna Beussink ran even farther on instinct to rescue the ball.
Two subsequent errors by the Lady Indians closed the margin to 15-11, but Pierson became a preferred attacker with five big kills in the stanza. She rebuilt a 22-15 advantage on an angled spike.
Game three featured perhaps the purest volleyball of the night. With limited mistakes on both sides, the teams combined for 28 kills amid several durable rallies.
Halie Dickey followed up an outside with two aces during 5-0 spurt to put Bismarck ahead 13-7. Ayla Hawkins delivered a huge kill and solo block after a 10-foot spike by Schreiners made it 21-19.
Leopold was on the verge of inflicting a demoralizing blow to pull even, bolting to a massive 17-6 advantage in game four as Schreiners resumed her personal onslaught.
Bismarck steadily evaporated that entire deficit with Ashley Hawkins and Pierson each landing five more kills. Hubbs flicked a scoring dink shot to draw within 22-19.
A bad serve reception leveled the score at 23-23 after Pierson hammered an overpass. Leopold picked up a tiebreaking point at 25-24 on net violation, and Hutchings sealed the set on a misplayed ace.
Hutchings posted 32 digs and Beussink added 11 more for the Wildcats, who fell to 2-3 this season when completing for five games.
Bismarck is seeking its first state semifinal appearance since 2000.
