SIOUX FALLS – After getting swept in the opening round, Castlewood bounced back with a sweep of its own on day two of the Class B State Volleyball Tournament.

The Warriors defeated Kadoka Area 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 to secure their spot in today’s consolation championship match.

After getting swept by the top-seeded Chester Area Flyers on Thursday, the Warriors felt a little nervous as a team getting back on the court for day 2.

“Well, getting back on the court, we were definitely all pretty nervous about today. But we knew if we played as a team, we would be perfectly fine,” said Castlewood junior Cassidy Kirwan. “And that’s what we did. We played as a team.”

Although the Warriors may have felt nervous, they didn’t show it on the court, proving that their first match against Chester Area wasn’t their best volleyball.

“We definitely felt a lot better today. There was no pressure on us, we just felt like more of a team. A lot more energy,” said Warriors coach Breanna DeKam. “It felt good to go out and show everybody that we’re competitive and we can handle it.”

That energy was felt throughout the match and showed up in the block game for the Warriors.

With the widespread attack from the Cougars, it was a challenge at first, but the Warriors finished the day with 12 assisted blocks, 3 of which came from sophomore Cydni Kudrna.

“I think it was really fun and definitely the energy was there,” said Kudrna. “It was definitely a little stressful, but the teamwork, and keeping each other hyped up. It was really, really fun.”

Emerson Carter has been a huge energy sparker for the Warriors all season, and it showed once again on Friday, specifically in the third set when she tallied four kills in a row, after managing just three total against Chester. Her surge pushed a two-point Castlewood edge to a 21-15 advantage.

“And we relied on her all season, so last game was really unusual for us because we do rely on her so much. And she has that confidence,” said DeKam. “So, her coming out with the confidence, it just builds morale for the whole team.”

Having an attacker like Carter has been a huge benefit for first-year setter Kirwan, who plays multiple positions for the Warriors. The two players share a special bond.

“So, this is my first year actually setting. I’ve never set before,” Kirwan said. “So, I kind of just got thrown into it, but I have really fallen in love with setting. I think it’s my favorite thing.”

Being able to set Carter is an added plus.

“We’ve been playing together since I was a freshman,” Kirwan said, “and we’ve always been best friends so we just have that connection.”

Kirwan set Carter to close out the second set, but the utility player for the Warriors also had the first set winning kill, and the game-winning kill, giving her a stat in all three set points, something that she didn’t even realize.

“I did not know that,” said Kirwan laughing. “If it wasn’t for our great passes, we wouldn’t be able to do that. So, I gave a lot of credit to our back row, because it’s a very hard job, and we wouldn’t be able to swing, or set the ball without them.”

Castlewood will face Colman-Egan for the third time this year in the fifth-place game at 1:45 this afternoon. The first two fell the Hawks way, the first one going all five sets, and the most recent one coming in the Dakota Valley Tournament which went all three sets.

“It’ll be interesting to see if it’s Colman again. We tend to see Colman quite a bit throughout the season,” said DeKam. “It’ll be good to have an opponent we know, but regardless, we’re going to take it one game at a time, one set at a time.”

The Warriors, 19-11 on the season, feel confident going into their last match of the year.

“I’m feeling very excited, and if we play like we did today, I think we’re going to get it,” said Kudrna. “I think we have a very good chance. I believe in every one of us.”

Serving: Kadoka Area 6 aces (Madisyn Nemecek 4, Makaylan Bonenberger 1, Bella Williams 1); Castlewood 6 aces (Claire Horn 2, Emerson Carter 2, Cassidy Kirwan 1, Dayton Knecht 1).

Hitting: Kadoka Area 28 kills (Bella Williams 13, Shaylee Porch 6, Nemecek 5); Castlewood 41 kills (Carter 22, Kirwan 6, Horn 6).

Setting: Kadoka Area 25 assists (Kassidee Williams 19); Castlewood 38 assists (Kirwan 23, Emery Larson 12).

Digs: Kadoka Area 43 (Nemecek 9, Porch 9, K. Williams 8); Castlewood 52 (Nora Solberg 16, Horn 9, Ciara Kjetland 9)

Blocks: Kadoka Area 3 solo 6 assists (K. Williams 3 solo, Porch 3 assists, Breezy Amiotte 3 assists); Castlewood 12 assists (Carter 4, Kudrna 3, Lilly Jacobsen 3).

Records: Kadoka Area 31-5; Castlewood 20-11.