NYM falls to Verndale in conference action

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills Eagles defeated Lake Park-Audubon for their fourth win of the season last week, before falling to Verndale in Park Region Conference action on Thursday night. The Eagles are currently 4-5 overall and 1-1 in the Park Region Conference. 

This week the Eagles will travel to Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal on Monday, before hosting Breckenridge on Tuesday night in a pair of non-conference games. On Thursday the Eagles will host Sebeka in a Park Region Conference tilt, before hosting Pelican Rapids next Tuesday night in another home non-conference game.

Monday

The NY Mills Eagles defeated Lake Park-Audubon 3-1 in non-conference action on Monday night. 

The Eagles dominated the Raiders at the net as they finished with 13 blocks and 35 kills as a team. After winning the first game by a score of 25-17, the Eagles cruised to a 25-13 win in the second game to take a dominating 2-0 lead in the match. The Raiders came away with a win in the third game by a score of 25-18, before the Eagles ended the match in four games by coming away with a win in the fourth game by a score of 25-17. 

NY Mills was led offensively by a balanced offensive attack with Ayla Olson who finished with 11 kills, while Annika Dunrud finished with 9 and Grace Brasel chipping in with 8 kills. 

Brasel also had a solid night from the service line with 6 aces, while Alayna Baune led the team in blocks with 5 and Hailey Korkowski led the team with 18 assists. 

Defensively, Gabi Vaden and Olson finished with 15 digs apiece, while Korkowski finished with 14 digs. 

Thursday

In an always competitive Park Region Conference contest, the NY Mills Eagles came just a few bounces of the ball short of completing a tremendous comeback in the fourth game and force a decisive fifth game by falling to the Verndale Pirates by a score of 3-1.

After dropping the first game by a score of 26-24, the Eagles found themselves in an early hole by dropping the second game by a score of 25-16. NY Mills fought back in a big way in the third game by winning 25-21 and came up just short in its comeback attempt in one of the most thrilling games of the season to date by falling 27-25 in the fourth game. The Eagles were down early in the fourth game but were able to come back to play point-for-point with the Pirates.

Ayla Olson had a huge night at the net for the Hornets as she finished with 17 kills and 17 digs. She also finished second in the team with 14 assists. 

Gabi Vaden led the way with 21 digs and Haley Korkowski finished with a team-high 19 assists and 4 aces. 

LP-A

SERVING: Kalyn Balbach 11-11, Haley Korkowski 21-21 (2 ace), Grace Brasel 29-30 (6 ace), Ayla Olson 5-6 (2 ace), Annika Dunrud 8-10 (2 ace), Belle Vaden 5-5 (1 ace), Gabi Vaden 8-9 (2 ace)

KILLS: Haley Korkowski 1, Alayna Baune 4, Grace Brasel 8, Ayla Olson 11, Annika Dunrud 9, Chloe Costin 2

BLOCKS: Haley Korkowski 1, Alayna Baune 5, Ayla Olson 4, Annika Dunrud 1, Chloe Costin 2

ASSISTS: Madeleine Thorsrud 1, Haley Korkwoski 18, Grace Brasel 1, Ayla Olson 10, Chloe Costin 1

DIGS: Madeleine Thorsrud 1, Kalyn Balbach 6, Haley Korkowski 14, Grace Brasel 10, Ayla Olson 15, Chloe Costin 1, Belle Vaden 1, Gabi Vaden 15

VERNDALE

SERVING: Kalyn Balbach 6-10, Haley Korkowski 15-17 (4 ace), Grace Brasel 9-12, Ayla Olson 16-16, Annika Dunrud 4-7, Belle Vaden 10-10, Gabi Vaden 7-10 (2 ace)

KILLS: Haley Korkowski 2, Alayna Baune 8, Grace Brasel 6, Ayla Olson 17, Annika Dunrud 4, Chloe Costin 2,

BLOCKS: Haley Korkowski 1, Alayna Baune 4, Grace Brasel 1, Ayla Olson 1, Annika Dunrud 2, Chloe Costin 2

ASSISTS: Haley Korkowski 19, Alayna Baune 2, Ayla Olson 14, Chloe Costin 1

DIGS: Kalyn Balbach 13, Haley Korkowski 17, Alayna Baune 1, Grace Brasel 12, Ayla Olson 17, Annika Dunrud 4, Belle Vaden 4, Gabi Vaden 21