Sunday, October 31, 1999

Untitled Document

Riverland 7th at state

By BRADY SLATER

Austin Daily Herald

MANKATO – After three days and four state matches, the Riverland volleyball team was able to once again prove it belonged.

The Blue Devils won at least one game in each of the four best-of-five matches it played Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Minnesota Community College Conference State Tournament.

Yet, the four match losses to Vermillion, host-team Bethany Lutheran, Fergus Falls and Ridgewater left the Blue Devils out of the title hunt again.

This was the fourth straight trip to state for Riverland and Coach Helen Jahr called it "our best showing," because of five single-game wins.

But after falling to Fergus Falls to drop to 0-3 Friday afternoon, Jahr let off some steam.

"The past two days have been frustrating," said Jahr, who has turned the Blue Devils into annual state participants. "I’ve seen the girls play some of their best volleyball and some of their worst all in the same match.

"If I had an answer to why that happens, I’d probably be a millionaire. The toughest thing about volleyball is consistency."

Heading into Saturday’s final rounds, the Blue Devils joined Fergus Falls, Anoka-Ramsey and Ridgewater in the hunt for fifth. Meanwhile, Vermillion, Bethany, Central Lakes and Mesabi slugged it out for the title.

Saturday morning, the Blue Devils fell to Ridgewater, 17-15, 16-14, 9-15, 6-15, 12-15, ending their state weekend.

Jahr called the match "tough, exciting volleyball." Riverland fought back from down 11-1 in the opening game to win it. But "our errors throughout the match caught up to us," Jahr said.

In the match, Jamie Rosheim registered 20 kills, five blocks and three aces in the game. Melissa Bemis finished with 11 kills and Melissa Majerus 10. Breanna Seira served three aces to go with 31 set assists.

The tournament bright spot for the Blue Devils was a 15-13 Game One win in their match against Bethany on Friday.

"We haven’t done that in six years," Jahr said. "Doing it in the state tournament makes it extra special."

Bethany is a Division I junior college, meaning it can offer scholarships to athletes. All of the other teams in the state tournament are Div. III junior colleges.

Against Bethany, Rosheim led the Blue Devils with 11 kills, three blocks and a pair of aces.

Rosheim was equally active against Fergus Falls later in the day, getting four aces, four blocks and eight kills.

"They were very beatable," Rosheim said.

Unforced errors, like costly missed serves and carries, cost the Blue Devils dearly against Fergus Falls on Friday.

"We could beat teams like that if we could put our heads together," said Breanna Seira who finished with 30 set assists while playing a gutsy game with a pulled neck. Several times during the match play stopped while Seira stretched her neck.

"I’ve done it before," she said. "It gets tight for 10 or 15 seconds and I can’t move it around."

Seira’s exploits seemed to mirror those of her Blue Devils, who earned respect for their play, but couldn’t work the kinks out at state.

Riverland’s State Road

Thursday

Vermilion 3, Riverland 1: 17-15, 12-15, 15-5, 15-7

Friday

Bethany Lutheran 3, Riverland 1: 13-15, 15-1, 15-5, 15-1

Fergus Falls 3, Riverland 1: 15-11, 15-12, 3-15, 15-6

Saturday

Ridgewater 3, Riverland 2: 15-17, 14-16, 15-9, 15-6, 15-12