Aberdeen Roncalli’s Ella Hanson, right, reaches to tip the ball at the net as Tiospa Zina’s Brianna Garman, left and Kami Crawford, center, defend the net during Thursday night’s match at the Roncalli High School gym. Looking on for the Cavaliers is McKenna O’Keefe. Photo by John Davis taken 9/1/2022
After a ragged start to the season, the Aberdeen Roncalli volleyball program snared its first win of the season with a 3-set sweep of Tiospa Zina Thursday night at Roncalli Gym. The Cavaliers won by set scores of 25-17, 25-10 and 25-19.
“It was good to get a victory,” said Roncalli coach Mandy Smid. “It’s been a tough start to the season with great teams, so it was a nice chance to be at home and get a bit of a rhythm going and have some success.”
Roncalli had a good night at the service line, finishing with 12 aces. Ava Hanson and Faith Danielson had three apiece.
That helped the Cavalier front line also get in rhythm, an effort headlined by Ella Hanson’s 11 kills.
“Ella had a nice night for us,” Smid said. “She had some powerful attacks that kept the energy going for us. She was a leader on the court.”
Smid said she was hopeful this first victory can serve as a springboard for her team.
“I think in these first four matches, we’ve seen some really great moments,” Smid said. “But it’s hard to be confident in yourselves when you’re not getting that win at the end, so to have that win to close the door on the match and have some success will do a lot mentally and emotionally for us.”
Danielson and Maddie Huber had 12 assists apiece for the Cavaliers. Camryn Bain finished with 20 digs.
Tiospa Zina was led by Kennadee Bissonette with four kills and two aces.
Roncalli is off until hosting Florence-Henry on Tuesday at Roncalli Gym.