Olson gets 1,000 career dig, kill in same game

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

One of the bonuses of having it be homecoming week is there are typically a few additional home games on the schedule.

Last week the New York Mills Eagles had three home games, including a pair of non-conference games on Monday and Tuesday night, before Pillager came to town on Thursday for a Park Region Conference match up.

NY Mills came away with three wins on the week to push their record to 15-7 overall and 4-1 in the Park Region Conference. The Eagles are currently just one of three teams who are either undefeated, or have just one loss in the conference, as Wadena-Deer Creek is 5-0, Sebeka is 5-1 and NY Mills is 4-1 in the conference.

This week the Eagles hosted Parkers Prairie in non-conference action on Monday, before traveling to Menahga on Thursday for another PRC game against the Braves. 

Monday

The stands turned pink last Monday night for the NY Mills Pink Out volleyball game. This year the Eagles welcomed the Lake Park-Audubon Raiders for the pink out event, which raises money for a local individual currently battling cancer.

After dropping the first game by a score of 25-20, the Eagles rallied back in a big way as they defeated the Raiders 25-17, 25-12 and 25-23 in the second, third and fourth games to come away with a 3-1 win.

The Eagles were led offensively by Ayla Olson, who achieved a pair of career milestones. Not only did Olson pick up her 1,000th kill in the game, finishing with a team-high 24, but she also secured her 1,000th career dig as she finished with a team-high 19 digs in the game. She also has 1,000 career assists for the Eagles.

Also chipping in for the Eagles was Gabi Vaden who finished with 16 digs, Belle Vaden who finished with 14 digs and Annika Dunrud who finished with 8 kills. Dunrud and Gabi Vaden each finished with three ace serves in the win.

NYM 3, LPA 1

20-25, 25-17, 25-23

SERVING: Kalyn Balbach 15-16 (1 ace), Alayna Baune 9-9, Ayla Olson 12-14 (2 ace), Annika Dunrud 14-15 (3 ace), Chloe Costin 8-9 (1 ace), Belle Vaden 7-8, Gabi Vaden 20-22 (3 ace)

KILLS: Alayna Baune 5, Ayla Olson 24, Annika Dunrud 8, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 5, Belle Vaden 3

BLOCKS: Alayna Baune 5, Ayla Olson 1, Annika Dunrud 1, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 3, Belle Vaden 1

ASSISTS: Ayla Olson 11, Annika Dunrud 4, Chloe Costin 18, Belle Vaden 1, Gabi Vaden 2

DIGS: Kalyn Balbach 5, Alayna Baune 3, Ayla Olson 19, Annika Dunrud 8, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 2, Belle Vaden 14, Gabi Vaden 16

Tuesday

NY Mills made quick work of Brandon-Evansville on Tuesday night as the Eagles defeated the Chargers 3-0. After taking the first game by a score of 25-10, the Eagles defeated the Chargers 25-14 and 25-7 to come away with the 3-0 non-conference win.

Ayla Olson had another dominating night at the net as she finished with 19 kills, while Chloe Costin led the team with 16 assists. Kalyn Balbach finished with a team-high seven digs, as well as seven ace serves in the win.

NYM 3, B-E 0

25-10, 25-14, 25-7

SERVING: Alise Schornack 2-2, Kalyn Balbach 28-29 (7 ace), Ayla Olson 6-7 (1 ace), Annika Dunrud 2-2 (1 ace), Chloe Costin 6-6 (2 ace), Belle Vaden 10-10 (3 ace), Gabi Vaden 16-17 (4 ace)

KILLS: Alayna Baune 2, Ayla Olson 19, Annika Dunrud 5, Chloe Costin 1

BLOCKS: Ayla Olson 1, Annika Dunrud 1

ASSISTS: Eliyana Ruther 1, Ayla Olson 1, Annika Dunrud 1, Chloe Costin 16, Belle Vaden 1

DIGS: Eliyana Ruther 1, Kalyn Balbach 7, Ayla Olson 6, Annika Dunrud 4, Chloe Costin 4, Belle Vaden 3, Gabi Vaden 5

Thursday

The Eagles improved to 4-1 in the Park Region Conference with a commanding 3-0 win over Pillager on Thursday night. The Eagles defeated the Huskies 25-17 and 25-22 in the opening two games of the night, before overpowering Pillager in the third game to come away with a dominating 25-2 win in the third game to complete the three game sweep.

Six Eagles had at least two kills in the win as Ayla Olson led the team with nine, while Annika Dunrud finished with six, Alayna Baune and Belle Vaden each finished with six kills, Chloe Costin finished with three and Alivia Preuss finished with a pair of kills in the 3-0 win. 

Gabi Vaden remained busy on the defensive end of the court throughout the night as she finished with 12 digs, while Olson finished with a team-high 13 assists. 

NYM 3, P 0

25-17, 25-22, 25-2

SERVING: Kalyn Balbach 11-12 (1 ace), Ayla Olson 20-21 (2 ace), Annika Dunrud 8-9 (1 ace), Chloe Costin 10-10 (2 ace), Belle Vaden 11-12 (1 ace), Gabi Vaden 9-9 (3 ace)

KILLS: Alayna Baune 6, Ayla Olson 9, Annika Dunrud 7, Alivia Preuss 2, Chloe Costin 3, Belle Vaden 6

BLOCKS: Alayna Baune 4, Ayla Olson 3, Annika Dunrud 2, Alivia Preuss 1, Belle Vaden 2

ASSISTS: Ayla Olson 13, Annika Dunrud 5, Chloe Costin 8, Belle Vaden 5

DIGS: Kalyn Balbach 6, Ayla Olson 9, Annika Dunrud 1, Chloe Costin 6, Belle Vaden 7, Gabi Vaden 12