By Mike Drooger –

The Edgerton Flying Dutchmen and Hills-Beaver Creek volleyball teams should know each other very well. They played nine sets against each other, all in September. They dueled in the Luverne tournament on the 10th. On Friday the 23rd they battled in Hills in a 12:30 matinee. Then, just four days later, the Patriots ventured to Edgerton for sets seven, eight, and nine. Edgerton won on the 27th by scores of 25-16, 25-18, and 27-17.

A very loose and relaxed group of Dutchmen players raced to a 10-4 lead in the first set and were never challenged, winning by nine. It’s become customary for Alyda Vande Griend to begin the EHS scoring with a kill, which is what happened on Tuesday night. Then, with Mateya Gilbertson serving, she got another kill. Then she added a tip before Gilbertson served an ace for a 4-1 score.

Later, Taryn Bogstad served Edgerton from a lead of 13-9 to a 17-9 cushion. The 17th point for the Dutchmen was a Bogstad ace serve. 

Freshmen setter Kya Voge and hitter Reese Vande Griend showed the fans how much they have improved during this match. Voge’s court vision is improving and she showed that against HBC with deep pushes to either corner where the defense wasn’t. Reese, on the other hand, has learned to use her long frame, long arms, and leaping ability at the net, which she showcased with blocks, tips, and kills. Point 23 for Edgerton was a free ball kill by Reese. Point 24 was an HBC error. The final point was a Reese kill that ricocheted off the arms of a Patriot right to the rafters where the ball took a crazy bounce away from HBC and the first set went to Edgerton.

Half of Edgerton’s first six points in set two were Mateya aces. She showed her versatility for point seven when she back set Alyda for the hammer. A deep Reese kill moved the score to 10-2. The Patriots had a few errors that gave Edgerton “gift” points and the lead remained in the five- to eight-point range. Hailey Kounkel served an ace for point 24 and the Patriots sent a spike attempt into the net for the 25th point.

Senior Savannah Schultz served Edgerton a quick 5-0 in set number three. Once again Alyda put Edgerton on the board first with a kill. Mateya got a kill thanks to a set from cousin Kya. Two Schultz serves were aces and Kya had another deep corner push during the opening run.