SIOUX FALLS – Watertown controlled life at the net and soon controlled the scoreboard as well on Friday afternoon.

The Arrows swept past Aberdeen Central 25-19, 25-13, 25-17 in consolation round action during the Class AA State Volleyball Tournament at the Sanford Premier Center.

“We couldn’t get them off the net. They passed really well today. They were in system a lot,” said Central coach Jackie Bindenagel. “They have a lot of experience. They’re senior heavy. They’re just a very good volleyball team.”

The Golden Eagles scored first in all three sets, but were unable to sustain it as the Arrows kept swinging away from all angles and positions.

“I think we scored the first point or first two points in every set, and then we’d kind of hit a lull,” Bindenagel said, “and then we’d kind of rally a bit, but it was too little, too late in a lot of the sets.”

The Arrows pounded down 43 kills in the match, nearly twice the amount of Central.

Watertown’s attack made getting up blocks difficult.

“It’s pretty hard, because I just have to get a lot faster on teams like this,” said Central’s Amelia Rife, who had a pair of assisted blocks. “They have really good hits, like all around. There’s not one position that lacks on that team.”

When asked how she determines where to set the block, Rife responded, “Ball setter, ball hitter. That’s just how it goes.”

While Watertown has a more experienced squad, there are a lot of newcomers on the Central side who are experiencing their first major roles for the Golden Eagles. One of those is freshman Kamdyn Borge who has learned a lot of new things during her first season.

“Obviously, coming in for my first time playing varsity … it was nerve wrecking, but we adjusted all sorts of things. We made so much progression throughout the season,” Borge said. “I think I’ve just learned so much from our upperclassmen, even our lowerclassmen too. I’ve just learned from everybody and I think it’s just a great experience overall.”

Borge said that the season has been a work in progress with a learning curve involved, but that the changes have gone well.

“I think the majority of them worked. Bindenagel threw all sorts of stuff at us,” Borge said. “We took it pretty good and I think that we made all sorts of really good adjustments, but unfortunately some came up short, but that’s OK. We came back.”

Like she did Thursday, Lauryn Burckhard led the Golden Eagles in hitting with 11 kills. Alivia Miller topped the squad with 19 set assists and 13 digs.

As Central heads into its final game of the season today, the squad will be looking to put everything together one last time.

“We had a lot of trouble getting on serving runs. We missed a lot of serves today, and then in combination with that, we didn’t pass very well,” Bindenagel said, “and so our focus right now is just keep gaining experience. We have a new match (Saturday), so try and learn from everything that happens.”

The Golden Eagles, who face Brandon Valley for seventh place at 11 this morning, are hoping to play their match when they hit the court today.

“I think we just need to play relaxed. We’re playing tense,” Rife said. “We just need to go out there with confidence and have fun.”

Regardless of what happens, the young Golden Eagles are gaining valuable experience playing in the state tournament this weekend.

“It’s fun that’s for sure,” Borge said of her first state tourney. “It’s definitely fun. Great competition, great girls, but it’s really fun.”

Serving: Watertown 5 aces (Madisyn Grimsrud 2, Natalie Pearson 1, Thury 1, Emma Hendricks 1); Aberdeen Central 2 aces (Kenadi Withers 1, Lauryn Burckhard 1).

Hitting: Watertown 43 kills (Thury 22, Siri Bach 6 Grimsrud 6, Anna Hirtz 5); Aberdeen Central 24 kills (Burckhard 11, Withers 5, Kamdyn Borge 3, Alivia Miller 3).

Setting: Watertown 42 (Grace Corey 41); Aberdeen Central 22 assists (Miller 19).

Digs: Watertown 85 (Pearson 31, Thury 17, Kynslee Johnson 10, Emma Hendricks 10, Corey 9); Aberdeen Central 49 (Miller 13, Withers 10).

Blocks: Watertown 4 assists (Corey 2, Grimsrud 2); Aberdeen Central 2 solo 10 assists (Miller 1 solo 1 assist, Borge 1, Karlie Nieman 3 assists, Amelia Rife 2 assists, Burckhard 2 assists).

Record: Watertown 26-7; Aberdeen Central 13-10.