The Hitchcock-Tulare Patriots endured a busy week of volleyball, battling conference rival Wolsey-Wessington on Thursday before posting a 2-2 record and winning the Bronze Division at Saturday’s Clark-Willow Lake Tournament.
Warbirds Edge Patriots in Four Sets
The Patriots opened the week with a hard-fought match against 281 Conference rival Wolsey-Wessington. Hitchcock-Tulare captured an extended opening set but ultimately fell to the Warbirds in four sets, 29-27, 15-25, 13-25, and 23-25.
Laina Puffer led the Patriots’ attack with 11 kills. Keilee Schone added nine kills, while Emmerie Arthurs and Tess Bixler finished with seven apiece. Olivia Knox directed the offense with 31 set assists.
Hitchcock-Tulare recorded four service aces, with Schone, Arthurs, Knox and Puffer collecting one each. Schone and Rylee Knock each contributed a block assist.
Defensively, Kaylie LaBrie led the Patriots with 23 digs. Arthurs finished with 15 digs, while Paige McNeely added 13.
The loss moved Hitchcock-Tulare’s record to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in 281 Conference play.
Patriots Open Tournament Against DeSmet
The Patriots began Saturday’s Clark-Willow Lake Tournament against the DeSmet Bulldogs. Hitchcock-Tulare came out strong and controlled the opening set for a convincing 25-11 victory.
The Patriots held a lead late in the second set, but DeSmet rallied to claim a 27-25 win. The Bulldogs then captured the deciding set 25-18 to take the match 2-1.
Arthurs led the Patriots with 10 kills, while Schone added eight. Knox handed out 23 assists.
Hitchcock-Tulare was aggressive from the service line and recorded 14 aces. Puffer led the way with six aces, while Schone added five. LaBrie collected 12 digs.
At the net, Schone and Knock each recorded two solo blocks.
Knights Win Another Three-Set Battle
Hitchcock-Tulare faced Aberdeen Christian in its second match of the day. The Patriots came ready to play and captured a competitive opening set, 25-23.
Errors proved costly in the second set as the Knights responded with a 25-10 victory. The deciding set remained close throughout, with the teams tied at 23. An error by the Patriots, followed by a Knights kill, allowed Aberdeen Christian to secure a 25-23 win and take the match.
Arthurs paced the offense with 10 kills. Schone and Puffer contributed six kills apiece, while Knox finished with 22 assists.
McNeely recorded two service aces. Arthurs led the defense with 17 digs, and LaBrie added 13.
The loss placed Hitchcock-Tulare in the tournament’s Bronze Bracket.
Patriots Rally Past Raiders
The Patriots opened bracket play against the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland Raiders. The scrappy Raiders caused problems early and took the opening set 25-16.
Hitchcock-Tulare responded in the second set, overcoming a deficit to earn a narrow 25-23 victory. The deciding set remained close from start to finish, but the Patriots made the key plays late and secured a 26-24 win to take the match 2-1.
Arthurs led Hitchcock-Tulare with 12 kills, while Puffer added seven and Bixler recorded six. Knox distributed 26 assists.
Arthurs delivered six of the Patriots’ eight service aces. Knock and Schone each added a block assist.
LaBrie anchored the back row with 20 digs. Arthurs collected 19 digs, Schone finished with 13, and Knox added 10.
Patriots Sweep Falcons for Bronze Championship
Hitchcock-Tulare closed the tournament against the Florence-Henry Falcons in the Bronze Division championship match.
The Patriots controlled both sets, defeating the Falcons 25-19 and 25-16 to finish the tournament with consecutive victories.
Puffer led the attack with nine kills. Bixler added five kills, while Knox contributed four kills and 18 assists.
Knox also led the Patriots from the service line with four aces. Arthurs collected 10 digs, and Schone recorded two block assists.
The Patriots finished the tournament with a 2-2 record and improved to 4-4 on the season.
Hitchcock-Tulare will return to action Tuesday when it hosts Aberdeen Christian in Tulare for a rematch of Saturday’s three-set thriller. The evening will begin with a junior high match at 5:15 p.m.