Unfinished business fuels Oak Grove in Region 1 volleyball semifinals

Rob Beer / The Forum By Rob Beer Today at 9:59 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? FARGO — The Oak Grove volleyball team doesn’t want a repeat of last season, a No. 1 region ranking and a missed state appearance. On Tuesday, playing in front of a boisterous home crowd, the Grovers showed why they’re on a mission. Oak Grove put away Northern Cass 25-11, 25-12, 25-18 to set up a North Dakota Division A, Region 1 final with Kindred on Thursday night at Gorder Gymnasium. ADVERTISEMENT “I mean it is an advantage,” said Grovers head coach Angie Johnson, who was facing her former team and is now in her second year at Oak Grove. “It’s really nice to be able to play on our home court and know that our fans are going to show up.” Other than a 6 a.m. practice to begin the week on Monday, the Grovers, winners of six straight, settled in quickly. Then it was bombs away for Alayna Foster-DeVold and company. “We definitely don’t want to have the same outcome as we did last year,” Foster-DeVold said. “So I think our focus is on winning Thursday’s game and that’s kind of the only thing we’re focused on right now.” The Grovers jumped out a 5-1 lead on a Foster-DeVold kill and the Jaguars had a hard time getting any momentum throughout the match. A running dig near the bleachers by Grovers freshman Sophie Larson keyed a tip by libero Linden Broneske for the set-winning point in the opening frame. “They executed every single thing they wanted,” said Northern Cass head coach Nicholas Theis. “They served where they wanted. They hit where they wanted. They set up their blocks really well. I just thought they dictated the ball for the most part and we were always chasing it.” Rob Beer / The Forum For the Jaguars, freshman Kadence Husar had eight kills, Nyla Erickson had 12 assists and Avery Davidson finished with 13 digs. The game plan for the Grovers, Johnson said, was simple: control the ball. The Grovers had several clean sets with Foster-DeVold leading the way with 15 kills. ADVERTISEMENT “We just really had a good connection tonight,” Broneske said, whose back-to-back aces helped the Grovers to a 12-4 lead in the first set. The Jaguars pulled within 15-14 in the third set but Foster-DeVold hammered two straight kills. That was followed by a Rachel Christianson ace and Addison Hunt and Calleigh Weisgram combined on a block for a 19-14 lead. Rob Beer / The Forum Then it was Molly Welsch, a setter with plenty of hitting ability, coming up with the match-winning kill. Welsch and Christianson each finished with seven kills and 11 assists apiece. “Obviously everyone knows we want to go to Alayna, but it’s just working throughout the season to try to get those other hitters comfortable to be able to step up in those big moments,” Johnson said. "We definitely have that good communication with those two outside, especially with Molly being a setter," Broneske added. "She just has that court awareness, and then Alyana, she can just bring it whenever she needs, whenever we need her." The Grovers have now won six straight since a four-set loss to Kindred a month ago. “Before the game we talked about just being the calmest team on the court,” Welsch said, “and I think we really showed that tonight.” ADVERTISEMENT In the other semifinal, Kindred beat Valley City 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20. The Jaguars and Hi-Liners will tip off action in the third-place match at 6 p.m. Thursday with the winner advancing to a state-qualifier match on Nov. 14. The championship match between Kindred and Oak Grove will follow 25 minutes after the conclusion of the third-place contest. Rob Beer / The Forum Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags OAK GROVE GROVERS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL By Rob Beer Rob Beer is the sports editor for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. He's been a journalist with Forum Communications since 1991. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter Linkedin Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Prep Prep highlights: Baylor Dinger's 8 aces lead Sheyenne in East Region quarterfinals win 57m ago · By Staff reports Prep Stampede snap Force win streak at 4 1h ago · By Staff reports Prep Shanley rallies over Davies in East Region quarterfinals 1h ago · By Andrew Haugland ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Men's Sports McFeely: Hawaii, somehow, blocks out distractions in paradise 5h ago · By Mike McFeely Business New Fargo coffee shop will feature viral fruit dessert and Vietnamese coffee 16h ago · By Stephanie Dickerson Fargo Pucker Power: Ben Franklin trumpet students compete for best 'siren' sound 4h ago · By Kevin Wallevand Minnesota Becker County voter's ballot misses deadline by a day as Senate race remains close 4h ago · By Michael McGurran