Semoball

Notre Dame outlasts Kennett to win in three sets

Kennett's Elle Vancil attempts to block a kill by Notre Dame's Kristin Anderson at Kennett High School Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.
Christian Johnson/Delta Dunklin Democrat

Notre Dame outlasted early shoot outs with the Kennett Indians to take the lead in three sets, winning the late-season match up in a clean sweep Monday.

Setting the tone for the rest of the night, Notre Dame's junior varsity squad took down the Indians to win in two sets. While the night ended in a sweep, though, the competition was closer than anticipated.

Despite being district opponents, it was the two teams' first meeting this season. The anticipation and drive to bring down a district rival, one in which they will play again in districts later this week, showed in the action.

“It's always hard if you've never seen a team play,” Notre Dame head coach Meridith Brinkmeyer said. “You don't really know what to expect. The girls always ask how they play, but it's not about that. It's how we play. Just coming in here giving it our all, I'm very happy with how the night went.”

Varsity play was full of long rallies, hard hits at the net and miraculous saves on both teams' defenses. While Kennett kept up through the first half of each set, their errors made the difference at the end of the night.

The first set of varsity play began with hits out on both sides after long rallies, but after kills by Notre Dame's Kristin Anderson and Kennett's Lexi Williams, the game tied at 6-6. For Kennett's largest lead, E'Marriha Johnson put down a kill and Lani Heeb swiped a tip before the momentum changed.

After three consecutive defensive mistakes on the Kennett side of the court, a shootout transitioned to a set all about the Lady Bulldogs. Notre Dame's Kate Rubel hit three kills and a tip to widen the gap securing an unattainable lead. With help from kills by Anderson, Courtney Tatum and Claudia Jones the Bulldogs took the first set 25-15.

“There were moments out there that felt really positive,” Kennett head coach Gentry Vancil said. “We had some really good rallies, really good everything; and then there were some moments where we lack. And tonight, the lacking moments outplayed the moments that were above.”

Set two began with a kill from Rubel before two consecutive blocks by Kennett's Elle Vancil. Closely followed by another defensive error on Kennett, Notre Dame's Aubrey Neumeyer wasted no time in serving up two aces to tie the set.

In the closest set of the night, Kennett took a lead 10-8 with kills from Lexi Williams and E'Marriha Johnson. After the last tie of the night 12-12, Notre Dame's Courtney Tatum served two aces to once again switch the momentum.

Set two finished with a block, tip and kill combo by Kate Rubel, two more aces by Claudia Jones, a tip by Tori Rubel and help from several mistakes on Kennett for Notre Dame to win 25-13.

Set three began with a Kennett hit out and ended with an ace by Emma Self. After an ace by Neumeyer and a kill by Anderson, it wasn't until the Bulldogs had already amassed six points that Kennett found their own by a hit into the net by Notre Dame.

With every player contributing to fight through more endless rallies, Notre Dame ultimately outlasted an attempted comeback by Kennett (managing to fight within three points, 17-14, at their best) to win the third and final set 25-16.

“I thought the score on a couple of them didn't show how hard we played,” Vancil said. “We had some long rallies that could have gone either way. We had some mistakes getting into the net, passing over and not communicating, but I think it's a game where we should compete and the score should be better next time.”

Monday night was Kennett's final test before districts begin on Thursday, while Notre Dame will host Dexter for their last on Wednesday.

“I'm excited about districts,” Vancil said. “We have two hard days of practice, just varsity only, those 14 girls in the gym. And we have to work on some things. First, we have to beat New Madrid and then again against Notre Dame. Hopefully.”

District competition will begin in Kennett on Thursday, during which Notre Dame will make another trip to Kennett along with Dexter and Doniphan.

“Overall, it was a pretty good night,” Brinkmeyer said. “You never know how the bus ride will affect us, and I thought the girls were a little slow to start out with, but as soon as they got moving a little bit we picked it up. We're just figuring out the floor in here, the surrounding and getting used to playing in here. I think we did that and settled in to get our hits on the line or corner, wherever we need to place it.”

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