Prep Volleyball: New York Mills edges Verndale in Park Region battle

New York Mills rallied from two sets down to edge Verndale 3-2 during Thursday’s epic Park Region Conference battle between the two rivals.

“All the games were extremely close,” said New York Mills head coach Amy Koskela. “It was good for us to come back and play games four and five and end up on top!”

Verndale scored 25-22 and 25-23 victories in the first two sets, but the Lady Eagles rallied to force the decisive fifth set by winning the next two by close 25-23 and 25-20 scores.

Teresa Moenkedick posted a match-high 26 kills, 31 digs and five ace serves for the Lady Pirates during the loss. Jordyn Glenz registered a team-high 16 blocks with Jordanna Schluttner adding 15 stops. Sarah Moenkedick, Miranda Dougherty and Jessica Wright each had 24 digs from the Lady Pirates’ backcourt.

New York Mills countered with a team-high 20 kills from Jackie Imsande, with Ellie Rutten adding 16 kills and 14 blocks. Lexie Rankka had 50 setting assists and Brooke Kupfer collected 29 digs for the Lady Eagles.

“All the girls contributed to this big conference win!” Koskela exclaimed.

New York Mills (6-10-1) will be off until next Thursday (October 6) when they head to Sebeka at 7:30 p.m. Verndale (3-9-1) will participate in the Hancock Tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday.

New York Mills at Verndale on September 29
Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Pirates 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-11)
NYM Stats
Kills—Tori Kempenich 4, Brooke Kupfer 1, Amy Nebosis 2, Taylor Plautz 6, Taylor Geiser 9, Ellie Rutten 16, Jackie Imsande 20
Digs—Kempenich 16, Lexie Rankka 14, Kupfer 29, Savannah Leiran 2, Nebosis 2, Plautz 9, Geiser 19, Tori Paavola 1, Rutten 1, Imsande 1
Serving—Kupfer 1 ace, Plautz 2 aces, Imsande 1 ace
Blocks—Plautz 7, Geiser 2, Rutten 14, Imsande 6
Set Assists—Rankka 50, Rutten 1, Imsande 1

Verndale Stats
Kills—Teresa Moenkedick 26, Jordyn Glenz 6, Jordanna Schluttner 5, Krista Dailey 3, Miranda Dougherty 4
Digs—Teresa Moenkedick 31, Sarah Moenkedick 24, Glenz 22, Elyssa Kern 10, Schluttner 8, Dailey 3, Dougherty 24, Jessica Wright 24
Serving—Teresa Moenkedick 5 aces, Sarah Moenkedick 1 ace, Kern 3 aces, Schluttner 1 ace
Blocks—Teresa Moenkedick 3, Sarah Moenkedick 6, Glenz 16, Schluttner 15, Dailey 12, Dougherty 3
Set Assists— Sarah Moenkedick 23, Glenz 1, Kern 14, Schluttner 1, Dailey 1, Dougherty 1