MOBRIDGE, S.D. – The Mobridge-Pollock Lady Tigers went into the regional bracket as the two seed after going 17-16 in the regular season. They got the playoffs started off with a win over Stanley Count Tuesday, November 4 before coming up short Thursday, November 6 against the three seed Platte-Geddes.
The first playoff game saw all of the fireworks this Lady Tiger team has been building up to all season long, an excellent performance which saw Mobridge-Pollock playing together more than we have seen all year. They started with a first set which featured near perfect serving from the Lady Tigers, something we would see in both postseason games from senior setter Ellie Kemnitz and junior defensive specialist Brooke Merkel. In the second set the attacks were the strong point for Mobridge-Pollock with their hitters continuing to shine and play together. In the third set everyone on the team got playing time and Mobridge-Pollock played their best set of the season working together and playing as a full team in order to secure the three set sweep over Stanley County.
That brings us to round two of the post season, Mobridge-Pollock hosting Platte-Geddes with a trip to the SoDak 16 on the line. The first set was similar to their first round matchup when the Lady Tigers got off to a quick six point lead. Platte-Geddes continued to fight but Mobridge-Pollock was able to pull away winning set one 25-19. In set number two things started to turn around with Kolbi Hoffman beginning to run the offense spreading her sets around to throw the Tiger off their game, and many times throughout the rest of the match, dumping it off for easy points. Her performance made her our Riverside Home Furnishing Player of the Game.
Two of the hitters Hoffman continuously set up were Taylor Schrank, and Kori VanDerWerff who both had impressive offensive games as well. The offensive explosion from Platte-Geddes helped them win set two 25-23 and set three 25-21 taking a two to one set lead in the match. Going into set four Mobridge-Pollock needed to regroup, and they got back to what was working with some excellent serves, some great backline defense from senior libero Tegan Konold, some unreal blocks at the net from sophomore middle hitter Pacey Konold and more front line contributions from every rotation to win set four 25-22.
Then the season for both squads came down to the win or go home set five, the first set five for Mobridge-Pollock since last year’s postseason when they were eliminated by Winner in the SoDak 16. The Lady Tigers got started hot, taking an early lead and holding it through the beginning of the set, but Platte-Geddes would not allow Mobridge-Pollock to expand the lead. Platte-Geddes was able to take a late lead making it 14-12 towards the end of the set. The Lady Tigers then fought back and when they needed it most Hayleigh Schlomer’s serve went untouched for an ace, evening the score back up at 14. Mobridge-Pollock lost the next point to go down 15-14 and on the very next serve, after a long volley Kori VanDerWerff got one down to win the fifth set 16-14 winning the game for Platte-Geddes.
This loss puts an end to Mobridge-Pollocks season but the Lady Tigers still have a lot to be proud of for what they were able to accomplish throughout the course of their season while Platte-Geddes will travel to Dakota Valley for their SoDak 16 match on Tuesday, November 11.
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