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Battle in Babbitt

Wolves, Hawks take five sets to decide opening match

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 8/29/18

BABBITT— The Nighthawks took the deciding fifth game in a hard-fought season opener with Ely on Tuesday after the Timberwolves bounced back from an early two-game deficit. The Nighthawks won the …

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Battle in Babbitt

Wolves, Hawks take five sets to decide opening match

Posted

BABBITT— The Nighthawks took the deciding fifth game in a hard-fought season opener with Ely on Tuesday after the Timberwolves bounced back from an early two-game deficit. The Nighthawks won the first two, 25-23, 25-22, before Ely took games three and four, 25-22, 25-20.

But the Nighthawks claimed the win, taking the fifth game 15-12.

“What a match,” said Nighthawks Head Coach Jodi Rogers-Reichensperger. “I think on any given day this match could have gone either way. Ely did a great job mixing up line-ups and keeping us guessing.”

Both squads are bringing more experience to the competition this year. Ely has two returning seniors, setter Lida Dodge and hitter Kenzie Peterson, along with a raft of juniors. “They have great depth and utilized that to the maximum extent,” said Rogers-Reichensperger.

With just eight players on the roster, the Nighthawks are heavily-reliant on their four seniors and two juniors, along with freshman Hannah Reichensperger. Nighthawks junior Lara Poderzay led the way on Tuesday with 30 set assists and Reichensperger, with 14 kills and nine blocks. Senior Sophie Lenz tallied 12 kills and two blocks, while senior Chloe Aase added five blocks and three kills.

Lida Dodge led the way for Ely with 22 set assists, followed by Brielle Kallberg with an even dozen kills. Jenna Merhar added nine kills while Erika Mattson tallied eight.

Ely will host Littlefork-Big Falls on Tuesday, while the Nighthawks are off until next Thursday when they visit Mt. Iron-Buhl.