WEST FARGO, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – For the second match in a row, Valley City was on the verge of having its season end. For the second match in a row, the team refused to have their season end and came back to win. Saturday, in a state qualifying match, the Hi-Liners were down 13-9 in the fifth set and came back to win 15-13 to win the match 3-2 over Fargo Shanley to advance to the state tournament for the second year in a row and the third time in four years
The two teams were even all the way through the match. In the first set, the two teams would be tied at 3 and 4, then after the Hi-Liners tied it at 4, Shanley would go n a 11-5 run to take a 15-9 lead, that would be the biggest lead either team would have in the match. From that point on, it was back and forth with Shanley maintaining a 3-6 point lead the rest of the way taking the set 25-20.
In the second set, it was Valley City that had the early lead. They would lead 6-3 early and lead by as much as four at 11-7. But Shanley would come back with a 5-1 run to tie the set at 12. The two teams would alternate points with Shanley tying the set at 13 and 14. Valley City would take control of the set with a 7-2 run to open up a five point lead at 21-16 on the way to a 25-20 win to tie the match at 1 set apiece.
In set three, the score would be tied at 1, 2, 3, and 4. Valley City would go up 6-4, but Shanley would tie it at 7 and 8. Three straight points would give the Hi-Liners an 11-8 lead. But Shanley not to be outdone, would score six straight themselves to take a 14-11 lead. But true to the spirit of the match, Valley City would score three straight to tie it at 14. The Deacons would score two straight to go up 16-14. They would keep that two point lead until Valley City would go on a 7-1 run to take a 23-19 lead. Shanley would get within two at 23-21, but the Hi-Liners would hold on for the 25-22 win.
In set three, Shanley would score first, Valley City would tie it. The Deacons would go up 2-1, Hi-Liners tie it. Shanley up 4-2, Valley City would tie it at 4. With the set tied at 6, Valley City would go on a 6-0 run to take a 12-7 lead. With the Hi-Liners up 15-11, Shanley would go on a 6-1 run to take a 17-16 lead. The set would be tied at 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22. Shanley would actually score four straight to take the set 25-22. All total the set was tied 11 times. That set up a winner take all fifth set.
The Hi-Liners would take a quick 3-0 lead to start the fifth set. Shanley would take a 7-6 lead with a 7-3 run. Valley City would go up 8-7, but then the Deacons would go on a 6-1 run to take a 13-9 lead. After a side out to cut the Deacon lead to 13-10. Lexi Leroux would take the ball and go back to the service line. Like they did in the loser out match with Fargo North, the Hi-Liners went on a late game run, in this case six points, the final point on a tip kill by Dylann Diegel. Valley City won the set 15-13, and the match 3-2.
Head Coach Rebekah DePasa said after the match, reaching the state was a goal from the beginning of what has been a very different type season.
The Hi-Liners head into the State tournament winners of seven of their last nine matches. Coach DePasa says they are peaking at the right time.
Lexi Leroux, Dylann Diegel and Sam Hatcher all had double-doubles. Leroux had a career high 19 kills to go along with 21 digs. Hatcher had 13 kills, 19 digs, and two aces. Peyton Pederson had nine kills, two aces and 2 1/2 blocks. Diegel, for the second match in a row, had 36 assists and added 22 digs and four kills. Rachel Beierle had 17 digs and libero Jocey Kriewald led the defense with 25 digs.
The Hi-Liners, now 14-12 on the year, will take on top ranked Bismarck Century in the quarterfinals of the state tournament at 10am Thursday at the Fargodome. Coverage begins at 9:45 with the pregame on 1490AM/96.3 FM KOVC.