Kendal Harpestad keeps her eye on the ball while setting it for a teammate.

Randolph 3, USC 2

The United South Central volleyball team took the Randolph Rockets to five sets, but unfortunately, the Rebels fell 3-2 at the end of the match.

USC lost the first set 25-19, but then won sets two and three, 25-14, 25-17, to take a 2-1 lead. However they just could not get that third set win to take the match victory.

Set four was a real battle, with Randolph winning 25-22. The Rockets then took a 15-6 win in the fifth and decisive set.

“Unfortunately, another 5 set loss for us tonight,” coach Joe Kuechenmeister said after the match. “In sets two and three, we played some of the best volleyball we have all season long. The kids were playing tremendous defense, and our hitters were aggressive and finding different ways to score.”

Kiera Schultz once again led the way with 11 kills, seven digs, three blocks and one ace.

Kendal Harpestad had eight kills, nine digs and one block, Madison Passer added seven kills, 11 digs and one block and Jaelyn Stangler also had seven kills with one dig and one block.

“I’ve had the privilege of seeing this level in practice multiple times, but it was great to be able to see them perform like this in front of our home crowd,” the coach said. “Just couldn’t maintain the level. We seemed to fall out of our rhythm in the middle of set four, and got too tentative in some big moments in the latter stages of the set. In set 5, we again made too many mental mistakes and we got ourselves in too big of a hole to crawl out of.”

Other Rebels stats were Eleny Korn with 29 assists, eight digs and two aces, Macy Sonnek with three kills, two digs and one block, Chloe Lutteke with six digs and one ace, Karly Koehler with three digs, Riley Getchell with one dig and one ace and Liz Meyer with one dig.

“I credit Randolph as they have a couple of kids who hit the ball well, but it’s tough to feel like you let one slip out of your hands,” Kuechenmeister added. “We’ll get back to the drawing board to prepare for Triton next week, hoping we can get back in the win column.”