ENDERLIN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Griggs County Central was one point away from losing a tough five set match to Enderlin when they got a side out and put freshman Madison Feiring at the service line. She would serve out including an ace on match point lifting the Cougars to an exciting five set win over Enderlin Monday night in Enderlin.
Down 23-15 in the fourth set, and two sets to one in the match, Griggs County Central Coach Jill Larson called a timeout and told her team they needed to change their attacking and be more aggressive. It paid off as the Cougars forced a fifth set by scoring 11 of the last 12 points to take the set 26-24.
The first two sets were back and forth as well. Enderlin won the first set 25-21. Griggs County Central won the second set 26-24. The third set went to the Eagles easily 25-10.
In the fourth set, Enderlin jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, but Griggs County Central would battle back and eventually tied the set on to see the Eagles comeback and take a 23-15 lead. That’s when Coach Larson called the timeout.
The strategy worked as the Cougars would comeback to force a fifth game with a 26-24 win. It was again back and forth in the fifth set with Enderlin taking a 14-10 lead. After Jenna Larson picked up a kill on a free ball to cut the lead to 14-11, the Feiring stepped to the service line. The freshman was 17-17 serving, nothing fancy, just getting the ball over the net. Jaycee Andel would pick up her eight kill to make in 14-11. Enderlin would have two straight unforced errors to make it 14-13. Then freshman Jenna Larson had back-to-back ace blocks to give the Cougars a 15-14 lead before Feiring would end the dramatic comeback.
Larson would finish with 10 kills and three ace blocks. And Feiring was 22 for 22 serving with the one ace. Coach Larson says the freshman have been huge this season with the help of the upper classmen.
Jaycee Andel added eight kills and five service aces for the Cougars who improve to 9-19 on the season. Kayla Kenninger chipped in three aces and 19 set assists.
For Enderlin, Brooke Christianson led the way with 14 kills. Katelyn Tingley had 11 kills and five aces. Kayla Tingley added seven aces and 31 set assists for the Eagles who fall to 13-18-1.
Coach Larson says this win is huge for the confidence of the young Cougars.