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TYLER — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton libero Laken Baartman reached a momentous milestone Friday in the Section 3A south subsection playoffs.
Baartman, a junior who can also play opposite-side hitter, surpassed 1,000 digs in her scholastic career as the Knights swept Red Rock Central, 25-7, 25-8, 25-15.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Laken Baartman celebrates surpassing 1,000 digs in a career after a Friday, Oct. 24, match versus Red Rock Central in Tyler. (Contributed photo)
“It is a great accomplishment to achieve her junior year,” RTR head coach Daynica Brown said via text. “She is just under 450 digs this season. Laken has been focused on helping the team, and she knows the dig or a serve receive starts the offense. She works extremely hard to get that first ball up, and give the setters a great pass to play.”
Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association third-ranked RTR (25-5) played Murray County Central in the section quarterfinals Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Worthington High School’s Trojan Gymnasium.
Baartman finished with 12 digs versus the Falcons while Sara Thooft added three. Both Baartman and Thooft also served up two aces.
Brezlyn Buchert and Dru Ellefson both contributed 18 assists, with Sara Thooft turning them into 13 kills and Ava Karbo 11. Sara Thooft and Karbo also had three solo ace blocks each.
The Knights are seemingly on track to play in the Section 3A championship, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
Early exits for Edgerton, SWC
Both Edgerton Public and Southwest Minnesota Christian suffered early exits from play-in matches on Monday, Oct. 20.
Red Rock Central downed SWC in five sets by scores of 32-30, 20-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11, advancing to play RTR in the second round.
SWC’s Alyvia Brands and Mia Vis both served effectively, with no errors and two aces each. Brenna Jasper also had two aces.
Setter Leah Veldkamp dished off 30 assists.
Southwest Minnesota Christian libero Mia Vis digs the ball during a match versus Pipestone Area Schools on Thursday, Oct. 2 at PAS Gymnasium. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Danika Nordby, Tylee Kooiker and Gracelyn Fick all posted double-digit kills, with Nordby 16, Kooiker 14 and Fick 11. Additionally, Fick had three solo ace blocks and four ace block assists.
Red Rock Central made fewer unforced errors, which proved to be the difference between winning and losing.
The following Eagle seniors played in their final matches: Mia Vis, Alyvia Brands, Gracelyn Fick, Brooklyn Talsma, Elia Vis and Danika Nordby.
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton downed Edgerton in five sets, 25-22, 24-26, 25-22, 15-25, 15-12.
In the loss, senior Reese Vande Griend powered the Flying Dutch with 31 kills. Kya Voge also played in her final scholastic match.
Edgerton Public’s Reese Vande Griend. (File photo by Eric Viccaro)
Both Edgerton and SWC finish with 5-19 records.
Elkton-Lake Benton falls in 3
DELL RAPIDS, S.D. — Dell Rapids-St. Mary’s swept Elkton-Lake Benton in three games during a Dakota Valley Conference match on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
The Elks (8-17) had two more regular-season home matches on Monday, Oct. 27 and Tuesday, Oct. 28 versus Estelline/Hendricks and Sioux Valley, respectively.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Quinn Slegers receives a serve while teammate Ashya Flores (16) looks on. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Quinn Slegers paced the Elks’ defense with 16 digs and Charlize Thooft added 10. Payton Kuehl served three aces and distributed eight assists.
In other categories, Thooft had seven kills, Madde Jensen two solo ace blocks and Kadence Olberding nine assists.
The South Dakota State High School Activities Association will announced region playoff brackets at some point Wednesday.