L-N volleyball team off to strong 3-1 start

September 1, 2022

Denise Mazour

Members of the Lawrence-Nelson Lady Raiders placed third in the 2022 Axtell Invitational Volleyball Tournament. They are (from left, back row) Nolan Kawata - coach, Claire Himmelberg, Kara Menke, Hanna Skinner, Addison McCloskey, Coach Dina Hoelting, (front row) Sydney Biltoft, Katelyn Mazour, Emily Troudt, Jessica Sole and not pictured Josie Hajny. Photo by Denise Mazour.

The Lawrence-Nelson Raiders volleyball team is off to a fast start to their 2022 season. The team faces a tough schedule as they seek to improve upon their 17-15 record from last season. The Class D-2 school faces off against three C-2 schools, 9 D-1 schools and only five D-2 schools.

They got off to a strong start in their season opener when they swept Giltner, 25-23, 25-19 and 25-20, in three sets at Giltner Thursday.

The team competed at a triangular match at Axtell, Saturday. They fell to host D-1 and 3-0 Axtell in two sets, 14-25 and 11-25. They rebounded with a two-set, 25-7 and 25-5, sweep of Dundy County-Stratton and a three-set, 17-25, 29-27 and 25-19 win over Silver Lake.

Kara Menke and Hanna Skinner were the lead kiillers against Giltner with eight apiece. Sydney Biltoft, Claire Himmelberg and Katelyn Mazour recorded four kills each. Emily Troudt had two kills. Menke was aces high with six. Skinner and Troudt scored with four aces apiece. Mazour had an ace, Mazour and Menke were the busy diggers with 11 each. Himmelberg and Skinner landed five digs apiece. Troudt had four digs. Jessica Sole was in with three digs. Addi McCloskey had a dig.

Biltoft and Menke rated three kills apiece against Axtell. Mazour mashed down two kills. Himmelberg and Skinner had a kill each. Aces were scored by Himmelberg and Skinner. Skinner collected six digs. McCloskey and troudt picked off three digs apiece. Biltoft, Mazour, Menke and Sole had two digs each.

Emily Troudt

Skinner and Troudt topped the kill list against Dundy County-Stratton with five apiece. Menke recorded four kills. Biltoft pounded down three kills. Mazour credited two kills. Himmelberg had a kill. Skinner slashed through four aces. Biltoft and Menke scored two aces each. Mazour and Menke collected six digs each. Skinner held up four digs. Biltoft, Himmelberg, McCloskey and Troudt had two digs each.

Menke was the top killer against Silver Lake with 12. Himmelberg accounted for six kills. Biltoft, MAzour and Skinner contributed four kills apiece. Troudt registered two kills. Sole had a kill. Skinner ripped through two aces. Biltoft, Himmelberg, Mnnke and Troudt each scored with an ace. Menke pushed up 9 digs. Skinner came through with 14 digs. Mazour joined in with 11 digs. Himmelberg responded with nine digs. Troudt took care of eight digs. McCloskey and Sole recorded seven digs apiece Biltoft added three digs.

The Raiders face a tough test today (Thursday) when they host Superior at Nelson. The Raiders visit Friend, Tuesday.