GRANITE FALLS -- Yellow Medicine East stayed atop the West Central South Conference volleyball standing Thursday with a convincing 25-18, 25-19, 25-11 sweep of Minnewaska Area.
The Sting improved to 7-0 in the loop and 11-1 overall. Two nights earlier, YME upended Montevideo to take the lead in the conference alone despite missing two starters to injuries.
"Offensively, we run a 5-1 offense and each of those five hitters that are on the court can definitely put the ball away," said YME coach Kirsten Tjosaas. "That gives us the ability to move the ball around and spread out our opponent's block."
YME went 12-12 last season and graduated its top hitter, Kristina Kietzman, a first-team All-Area selection.
"I'm not sure you ever expect to begin the season winning eleven of your first 12 matches," said Tjosaas, a former first team All-Area middle hitter (then Kirsten Johnson) from Granite Falls.
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"Certainly, I knew coming into the season that this group of girls has what it takes to have a terrific season."
One of the big improvements from a year ago is the Sting defense, which is utilizing a tall front line that takes pressure off the back row players.
"We have quite a bit of height," said Tjosaas. "And so we have been able to put up a solid block against our opponents."
Against Minnewaska Thursday night, the Sting got nine ace serves and 11 kills from Livi Jeseritz and eight kills apiece from Macy McKay and Stina Lieseth. Darcie Listul finished with 34 assists.
Minnewaska was led by Rachel Gandrud and Shannon Bosek with four kills apiece.
YME 3, Minnewaska 0
Minnewaska............................18 19 11
YME.........................................25 25 25
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(Key: good-attempts-aces)
Minnewaska
Serving: Trista Pahan 12-12-3, Amie Chan 10-10-1, Shannon Bosek 7-8-1, Rachel Gandrud 7-7-0, Ali Ostrander 8-8-0, Jackie Danielson 2-3-1, Robin Mithun 2-2-0, Morgan Olson 1-1-0 ... Setting: Holly MIkkelson 15-16-4, Ostrander 48-48-3, ... Hitting: Gandrud 9-12-4, Bosek 19-24-4, Chan 9-11-3, Olson 6-11-1, Ostrander 8-10-1, Mithun 4-5-0, Danielson 1-1-0, Mikkelson 3-5-0 ... Blocking (aces): none ... Digs: Chan 15, Ostrander 9, Emily Toop 6, Danielson 5, Bosek 4, Mithun 4, Mikkelson 2, Sammi Mithun 1, Gandrud 1, Pahan 1
Yellow Medicine East
Serving: Livi Jeseritz 20-21-9, Darcie Listul 9-9-1, Macy McKay 10-10-1, Jamie Baker 10-11-0, Stina Lieseth 4-4-0, Aimee Johnson 3-5-0, Amber Lindstrom 3-4-0 ... Setting: Listul 89-90-34, Whitney Swenson 4-4-2, Baker 1-1-1, McKay 1-1-1 ... Hitting: Jeseritz 27-30-11, McKay 17-20-8, Lieseth 12-14-8, Baker 12-15-7, Johnson 8-9-5, Molly Anderson 4-4-1, Anne Jepson 6-8-5 ... Blocking (aces): Lieseth 2, Johnson 2, McKay 1, Jeseritz 1, epson 1 ... Digs: Lieseth 13, Johnson 10, McKay 9, Courtney Knutson 8, Jeseritz 9, Listul 7, Anderson 6, Baker 2, Megan McKay 1, Jepson 1, Lindstrom 1
