NYM improves to 12-7 overall, 3-1 in PRC

Photo by Jenny Hoppe
Annika Dunrud tips the ball over the net during last week’s game in Sebeka.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

New York Mills put on some miles on the road last week as the Eagles hosted Norman County East/Ulen Hitterdal on Monday, before they traveled to Pelican Rapids on Tuesday, Sebeka on Thursday and Barnesville for a tournament on Saturday. In all, the Eagles went 4-3 on the week, including 2-2 in the Barnesville tournament.

Gabi Vaden lines up a serve during last week’s Park Region Conference game in Sebeka.

The wins improve the Eagles to 12-7 on the season and 3-1 in the Park Region Conference as they get ready for a bit of home cooking this week. After hosting Lake Park-Audubon on Monday night, the Eagles will host Brandon-Evansville on Tuesday, before hosting Pillager in their regular season home finale on Thursday. 

Monday

Ayla Olson finished with 12 kills and Annika Dunrud chipped in with nine as the Eagles made quick work of the Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal Titans last Monday night. The Eagles took the first game by a 25-20 margin, before winning 25-13 and 25-21 to complete the three game sweep. 

Ayla Olson sends a shot over the net during last week’s conference game against the Trojans.

In addition to her 12 kills, Olson led the team with assists with 12 and digs with 10. Chloe Costin finished with 11 assists, while Gabi Vaden picked up nine digs and a team-high four ace serves in the win.

25-20, 25-13, 25-21

SERVING: Kalyn Balbach 13-14 (1 ace), Ayla Olson 11-13 (3 ace), Annika Dunrud 10-11, Chloe Costin 11-11 (1 ace), Belle Vaden 8-9, Gabi Vaden 14-15 (1 ace)

KILLS: Alayna Baune 5, Ayla Olson 12, Annika Dunrud 9, Alivia Preuss 5, Belle Vaden 4

BLOCKS: Alayna Baune 3, Alivia Preuss 1, Belle Vaden 1

With Belle and Gabi Vaden looking on, Ayla Olson sends a pass to the front line during last week’s game against the Sebeka Trojans. 

ASSISTS: Alayna Baune 4, Ayla Olson 12, Annika Dunrud 3, Alivia Preuss 3, Chloe Costin 11, Gabi Vaden 1

DIGS: Kalyn Balbach 5, Alayna Baune 1, Ayla Olson 10, Annika Dunrud 8, Chloe Costin 4, Belle Vaden 4, Gabi Vaden 9

Tuesday

NY Mills picked up a big 3-0 non-conference win against Class AA Pelican Rapids on Tuesday night. The Eagles secured a win in the first game by a score of 25-19, before defeating the Vikings 25-12 and 25-20 to complete their second straight sweep of the week.

Olson had a huge night at the net as the senior finished with 22 kills to go along with four ace serves. 

Chloe Costin finished with 19 assists to lead the charge, while Alayna Baune finished with nine kills of her own in the win. Gabi Vaden led the way defensively with 16 digs, while Annika Dunrud finished with 12 and Belle Vaden also reached double figured with 10 digs.

Tuesday – Pelican Rapids 3-0

25-19, 25-12, 25-20

SERVING: Kalyn Balbach 13-13, Ayla Olson 9-9 (4 ace), Annika Dunrud 10-11 (3 ace), Chloe Costin 7-7, Belle Vaden 11-11, Gabi Vaden 22-22 (1 ace)

KILLS: Kalyn Balbach 1, Alayna Baune 9, Ayla Olson 22, Annika Dunrud 4, Belle Vaden 1

BLOCKS: Alayna Baune 4, Ayla Olson 1, Annika Dunrud 1, Chloe Costin 3

ASSISTS: Alayna Baune 1, Ayla Olson 7, Annika Dunrud 6, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 19, Gabi Vaden 1

DIGS: Kalyn Balbach 13, Alayna Baune 1, Ayla Olson 8, Annika Dunrud 12, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 5, Belle Vaden 10, Gabi Vaden 16

Thursday

In a matchup between two of the top three teams in the Park Region Conference, Sebeka was able to hand NY Mills its first conference loss of the season on Thursday night by a score of 3-0. The Trojans won a close first set 27-25, before holding on for a 25-21 and 25-18 win in the second and third games to complete the sweep. 

Ayla Olson once again led the team offensively with 11 kills, while Annika Dunrud finished with seven kills. Gabi Vaden led the team defensively with 22 digs, while Olson finished with 12 and Kalyn Balbach finished with 11. Alayna Baune also did her part defensively as she finished with six blocks in the loss.

The loss drops the Hornets to 3-1 in the conference, while Wadena-Deer Creek is 4-0 and Sebeka is 4-1 in conference action.

25-27, 21-25, 18-25

SERVING: Kalyn Balbach 17-17 (1 ace), Ayla Olson 13-15 (3 ace), Annika Dunrud 6-8 (1 ace), Chloe Costin 6-7, Belle Vaden 9-10 (1 ace), Gabi Vaden 8-9

KILLS: Alayna Baune 3, Ayla Olson 11, Annika Dunrud 7, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 2, Belle Vaden 2, Gabi Vaden 1

BLOCKS: Alayna Baune 6, Ayla Olson 4, Annika Dunrud 2, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 2, Belle Vaden 1

ASSISTS: Alayna Baune 1, Ayla Olson 10, Annika Dunrud 1, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 11, Gabi Vaden 1

DIGS: Kalyn Balbach 11, Ayla Olson 12, Annika Dunrud 2, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 4, Belle vaden 8, Gabi Vaden 22

Saturday

NY Mills went 2-2 at the Barnesville tournament on Saturday. The Eagles picked up a 2-0 win over Win-E-Mac and secured a 2-1 win over Menahga, but fell to Fertile-Beltrami 2-1 and Breckenridge 2-0 in the tournament. 

The Eagles were led offensively by Ayla Olson who finished with 43 kills in the tournament, while Annika Dunrud finished with 21 kills and Alayna Baune finished with 16 kills of her own in the four games. 

Chloe Costin led the way with 32 assists, while Olson finished with 22 and Gabi Vaden led the team with 43 digs and seven ace serves. 

Saturday – Barnesville tourney 2-2 overall

SERVING: Kasey Steinbach 7-7 (1 ace), Kalyn Balbach 50-51 (7 ace), Ayla Olson 30-31 (4 ace), Annika Dunrud 10-14 (2 ace), Chloe Costin 17-20 (4 ace), Belle Vaden 30-31 (4 ace), Gabi Vaden 45-47 (7 ace)

KILLS: Eliyana Luther 1, Alayna Baune 16, Ayla Olson 43, Annika Dunrud 21, Alivia Preuss 5, Chloe Costin 5, Belle Vaden 3

BLOCKS: Alayna Baune 11, Ayla Olson 6, Annika Dunrud 5, Alivia Preuss 4, Chloe Costin 4, Belle Vaden 1

ASSISTS: Eliyana Ruther 1, Alayna Baune 1, Ayla Olson 22, Annika Dunrud 17, Alivia Preuss 2, Chloe Costin 32, Belle Vaden 5, Gabi Vaden 5

DIGS: Kasey Steinbach 1, Eliyana Ruther 1, Kalyn Balbach 16, Ayla Olson 35, Annika Dunrud 23, Alivia Preuss 1, Chloe Costin 9, Belle Vaden 14, Gabi Vaden 43