BROOKINGS – The Brookings volleyball team picked up a momentum building win on Tuesday night as the Bobcats beat archrival Watertown in four sets to improve to 4-9 on the season.
The Bobcats played at Watertown (8-6) on Sept. 1 and were swept. Brookings head coach Sammie Miller said it was big for the ‘Cats to get revenge on the Arrows and it was even bigger that the win came during homecoming week.
“It’s a massive win. With it being on homecoming, that’s a big win for us. It’s really fun for us because the last time we saw Watertown we lost 3-0 and now we come back and force four sets and [get the win]. I think it’s just a boost in the girls’ confidence and I think we showed again [tonight] that we’re a force to be reckoned with,” Miller said.
The Bobcats won all three sets in close fashion. Brookings got out to an early lead in set one and hung on for a 25-23 victory. The Arrows took control in the second set and cruised to a 25-18 win to even it up at 1-1.
Brookings would jump out to a big lead in set three, but the Arrows came back and tied the set at 23-23. The Bobcats were then able to score the next two points and take a 2-1 lead.
The ‘Cats would have the early advantage in set four and were on their way to a victory when they led 23-20. That’s when the longest volley of the night happened, and Brookings was able to earn the point and get one more point for the 25-21 victory.
Miller said she liked the way her team never lost composure.
“I think we just keep coming back and keep fighting. We’re not going to give up and we’re not going to make it easy for [the opponent]. If they want to get that ‘W’ they’re going to have to show us that they really want it. Tonight, we showed that we wanted it more,” Miller said.
She added that her players talking to each other really helped them get the win.
“The communication was definitely there, and it showed, and the skills come with that. If we can hold that throughout a whole match, it just shows that we can bring home a win, and that’s what we did,” Miller said.
Gracie Adamson led the Bobcats with 19 assists, 14 kills, four blocks and three aces. Kymber Buys had 19 assists and 10 digs. Tayla Dobrenski had nine kills and Morgan Linstad had 13 digs. Sydney Bebensee had 10 digs and Tessa Burns had eight blocks.
Brookings had 11 aces on the night. Miller said that really gave the Bobcats momentum.
“[The aces] were huge for us because first, it gets our energy going, it starts to get the other team down, and once we get on runs like that and show that we can do it. It just gets the girls ready to go,” Miller said.
The Bobcats had 41 kills and the Arrows had 49. Brookings had 61 digs and Watertown had 54. The ‘Cats had 43 assists and on the night.
The is the first season for Miller as head coach and Brookings is now halfway through the year. The Bobcats still have a lot of work to do, but Miller thinks she and her team are finally settling into their roles.
“Definitely, [I’ve settled in as head coach]. I think it just takes some time to get to know the girls and for the girls to get to know me. We’ve been trying things all throughout the season to see what’s working and now I think we’re starting to get that narrowed down,” Miller said.
