A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
The Rebels' Kara Lemieux stretches out to get a save on a hit as the Rebels take on the Barnum Bombers Friday night in Moose Lake.
Harleigh Wyne keeps her eye on the ball to set up a return for the Rebels.
Barnum's Aili Lund readies to block a shot from Moose Lake/Willow River's Keely Alleman during Friday night's game. The Bombers came out with a 3-1 win.
An early season volleyball matchup between neighboring towns is always exciting. It was no different Aug. 30 when Barnum and Moose Lake/Willow River did battle in Moose Lake. In the end, the Bombers overcame a slow start in the first game to notch a 3-1 road win.
"Moose Lake/Willow River came out flying in that first game," said Barnum coach Amanda Nordstrom. "It's always a big rivalry game when we meet them, and they were ready."
The Rebels took Game 1 by a 25-16 score.
"We came out and our team played amazing," said Rebels coach Caitlin Miller. "Both of our middle hitters, Keely Alleman and Kaitlyn Andrews both played well."
In the second game, the Bombers united and started to take control of the match, claiming the second game 25-12.
"I just told my kids to relax and keep playing our game," Nordstrom said. "We got on an offensive roll, but it was our defense that controlled the second game. Our libero, Sammy Krueger, and our back row specialist, Janaya Jurek, both played well."
Game 3 was up for grabs the entire contest, but the Bombers prevailed, 25-21.
"I could tell after that second game that mentally we got in our own heads," Miller said. "After that we struggled to find it. Then there were some service errors, and we just had a loss of mental focus."
Once the Bombers won the third game, they seemed to pick up momentum, cruising to a 25-16 win in Game 4. Leading the charge for the Bombers were middle hitters Aili Lund and Kennedy Berthiaume, along with outside hitters Ava Nyquist and Hazle Rosenau as well as setter MaKenna Nordstrom, who led the 5-1 offensive attack and recorded every set assist in the game for Barnum.
"The match was very intense and had a lot more rallies than our opening match of the season," Nordstrom said.
The win improved the Bombers record to 1-1.
"I really like how our team reacted in the match after losing the opening set," Nordstrom said. "I am excited to watch how we grow as a team as the season goes along."
After the loss, the Rebels also dropped their record to 1-1.
"We are pretty young and really have only two returning varsity players," Miller said. "We have a lot of talent and height; and a new addition to the team ... Addie Smiley, (who) has been awesome and will help us tremendously."
