Bears not enough for Belle Plaine

BELLE PLAINE – As the match went on one team only seemed to get better.

Throughout the start of the class 1A regional volleyball tournament played Oct. 21 English Valleys seemed to only get better as the match went on. The Bears weren’t quite able to pull off the upset though as Belle Plaine won the match 3-0. 

English Valleys showed up to the start of regionals ready to play, and they showed off their ability to keep things close with a team that just got better as the match went on. 

Belle Plaine battled to a first round, 25-18 victory. 

The second set was much closer than anyone would have thought after the results of the first set. Belle Plaine won again, but only after English Valleys closed in. The second set ended in favor of Belle Plaine 25-23. 

Another close battle met both teams in the third set. This time Belle Plaine won the set 25-21, ending the Bears season. 

The Bears were led by sophomore Aba Gehrking who had 14 kills in the match. Olivia Debevec had five kills. Another four kills were added by Joselyn Bender. 

Nicole Murphy had two kills. Hadyn Bender and Phoenix Sorden-Spies both had one kill each. 

Bender led the Bears with 23 assists. Gehrking added two. 

Gehrking led the team with 19 digs. Both Hadyn Bender and Joselyn Bender had eight digs each. Debevec added seven digs. Taylor Mikesell finished with six digs. Murphy added two. 

Debevec, Haydn Bender and Joselyn Bender, Mikesell all had two aces each Gehrking had one ace. 

The Bears finish the season at 7-20.