Lady Cards claim marathon win at Hartington

Alan Dale

Randolph Times

HARTINGTON — The Randolph Lady Cardinals played only one match last week and oh boy, it was one to behold.

Randolph (10-11) rallied from an early deficit at Hartington-Newcastle and were able to secure a 3-2 (19-25, 25-14, 25-22, 19-25, 15-13) win on the road as only a couple of weeks remain before the postseason begins.

Bailey Beal led the way with 18 kills – and many down the stretch of the last set – while Ella Scott added eight kills. Erin Engel had eight kills and 28 assists while Grace Nordhues finished with 15 digs.

“Hartington has really improved since playing them early in the season, sometimes you have to take another teams’ best shot and we responded well,” Randolph head coach Rob Engel said. “Late in the game, Bailey played great at the net blocking and hitting, you could tell we weren’t going to let that one slip away.

“Bailey has made a lot of starts over the last three years and she has really grown as a player. She is unstoppable at times, and she is reading the floor better this year than before and finding open spots to put the ball. We’re trying to move her around some and find ways to get her the ball where she can make the most of those big swings.”

Senior Ryanne Winkelbauer said the win over the Lady Wildcats was a tough one and was born from the Lady Cardinals playing hard and “with their hearts,” too.

“We expected it to be easier than it actually was, and they gave us a really good game,” Winkelbauer said. “I think any win is a good thing, and this one shows us we can (tough it out). It was really good that we had to work for it and had to be strong and push through.”

Winkelbauer said the team needs to “remember who we are” as a team if they hope to make a playoff run.

“We need to do what we do best,” she said. “We are positive and keep uplifting each other on the court. We never give up.”

Randolph is playing knowing that the sub-district seedings won’t be released for a week or so now, but probable top seed Humphrey St. Francis looms as one of the best teams in Class D2.

“We have a big week ahead,” Rob Engel said. “We host a tri with Plainview and Wynot for Pink Out night on Tuesday and then head to Pierce for the Pierce County tournament with a first round game against Osmond.

“Conference tournament seedings will be out on Tuesday as well.”

Hartington-Newcastle 25 14 25 19 13

Randolph 19 25 22 25 15

KILLS

Randolph - Bailey Beal, 17; Ella Scott, 8; Erin Engel, 8; Emma Munter, 4; Brianna Sporleder, 3; Jacie Bartels, 2. HNS - Erin Folkers, 20; McKenzie Bruning, 10; Erin Meisenheimer, 7; Zoey Gratzfeld, 5; Alivia Morten, 3; Anya Pick, 2.

ACE SERVES

Randolph - Bailey Beal, 3; Jacie Bartels, 1. HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 4; Alivia Morten, 3; Kennadi Peitz, 3; McKenzie Bruning, 1.

BLOCKS

Randolph - Emma Munter, 3; Bailey Beal, 3; Brianna Sporleder, 2; Erin Engel, 1. HNS - McKenzie Bruning, 1; Erin Meisenheimer, 1.

DIGS

Randolph - Grace Nordhues, 15; Ella Scott, 10; Ariel Fye, 6; Erin Engel, 5; Jacie Bartels, 4; Emma Munter, 1; Bailey Beal, 1. HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 35; Kennadi Peitz, 18; Alivia Morten, 13; Mani Lange, 9; Erin Folkers, 7; Zoey Gratzfeld, 4; Erin Meisenheimer, 3; Anya Pick, 1; Maya Knutson, 1; McKenzie Bruning, 1.

SET ASSISTS

Randolph - Erin Engel, 28; Grace Nordhues, 1; Ariel Fye, 1. HNS - Alivia Morten, 31; Anya Pick, 4; Mani Lange, 1.