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They are winning the matches they are expected to win.
The Pipestone Area Schools volleyball team has reached this standard during the 2025 season, as noted during a Tuesday, Sept. 23, sweep over Big South Conference foe St. James by scores of 26-24, 25-19, 25-20.
“I think we are playing how we can play,” first-year head coach Shelly Hennager noted. “The teams we are playing are working as hard as they can. I am proud the girls took care of them in three.”
Pipestone Area Schools’ Brooke Einck (3) plays the ball at the net during a Big South Conference match versus St. James Area at PAS Gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The Arrows swept the Saints. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Hennager added the Arrows are becoming “the best” version of themselves.
The Arrows fended off the Saints in the opening set, winning the final three points with help from the Saints sending two attacks deep along with a violation point.
PAS’ senior outside Jadyn Kor served an ace, comfortably giving the Arrows the second set with Point No. 25.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Jadyn Kor (9) places the ball above St. James’ attempted block during a Tuesday, Sept. 23 match at PAS gymnasium. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Taryn Tuinstra, another senior leader, punctuated the win with a kill to give PAS the third set — and the match.
Also during the third game, the Arrows’ improvement on effective double blocks was supremely evident thanks to Brooke Einck, Kaysa Douty, Brynn Schulze and Emersyn Smidt.
“We are getting the hang of it,” Hennager said, proud of the Arrows’ ability to close and finish ace blocks.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Brooke Einck (3) and Emersyn Smidt (14) put up a double block during a match versus St. James on Tuesday, Sept. 23. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Einck and Smidt finished with three ace block assists each, and Douty and Schulze two apiece. These are numbers illustrating progress.
Setters Carmen Wiese and Avery Reinhard combined for 27 of the Arrows’ 31 assists.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Kailyn Burmeister receives a serve during a Tuesday, Sept. 23 Big South Conference match versus St. James. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Tuinstra pounded down a team-best 12 kills on 23 attacks for a better-than-.500 hitting efficiency. Smidt and Kor added six kills each.
In terms of digging, PAS compiled 47 digs in three sets (Tuinstra 12; Douty and Wiese, eight each.)
Pipestone Area Schools’ Kaysa Douty (4) has been effective with her jump serve this season. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Even though she missed four serves, Douty’s jump style proved difficult for St. James to handle. She had two of PAS’ four aces (Kor, Smidt). Wiese was a spotless 11-of-11 and Smidt 12-of-13.
Despite falling in five sets to Jackson County Central on the road Thursday, Sept. 25, PAS kept pace with the Huskies until the end.
JCC downed the Arrows by scores of 27-25, 25-21, 22-25, 19-25, 15-10, lowering PAS overall season record to 12-5.
Arrow notes
PAS will enjoy the creature comforts of home for a pair of matches this week versus Redwood Valley (Tuesday) and Southwest Minnesota Christian (Thursday).
Kaysa Douty prepares to kill the ball along the front row during a Tuesday, Sept. 23, match versus St. James. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Four of the final five regular-season matches will take place in Pipestone.
The Pipestone Arrow Athletic Booster Club will offer Pizza Ranch slices for $3 each for the match versus SWC — and it also will be “Dig Pink” night.
The PAS “B” squad will compete at a tournament in Dell Rapids, S.D., this coming Saturday.
Unlike last year, the Arrows won’t be competing in the Jimmy John’s Classic, which was scheduled for last Friday and Saturday in Marshall.