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HARTINGTON - Hartington-Newcastle walked across the road to the Monsignor Werner Activities Center at Cedar Catholic and grabbed a spot in the D1-3 finals after outlasting Bloomfield in the first round, 2025, 25-19, 25-21, 21-25 and 15-11.
The 10-19 Lady Wildcats were set to take on 12-18 Cedar Catholic on Oct. 29 for the chance to move on to a district final on Nov. 2.
“Tonight was the most fun, we just kept battling and coming back,” Lady Wildcat senior libero, Abi Rice said. “We ‘re just going to move forward one game at a time and keep winning, I’m so thankful for my teammates and we have really bonded together this season.”
In the final set, the sprint to 15, the Lady Wildcats were up 7-5 when they parlayed a couple of Bloomfield errors and a service ace by Karissa Bruning to go up 10-5 and force the Queen Bees to call a timeout.
Maddie Steffen rifled a winner for HNS out of the timeout to make it 11-5, but Bloomfield would score the next four points to get back to within 11-9 causing Lady Wildcat coach Sarah Edwards to ask for a timeout.
Bloomfield had trouble returning an attempted Lady Wildcat kill and was called for four hits then Steffen served up an ace to make it 13-9.
Hartington-Newcastle got to its first match-point thanks to another error by the Queen Bees and the match ended after a couple of Lady Wildcat mistakes and a Bloomfield hitting error on the third try at match point.
A full statistical recap of the Bloomfield match will be in next week’s Cedar County News.
Earlier last week, Hartington-Newcastle faced Plainview in a consolation game in the GNAC tournament.
The Lady Pirates swept HNS 25-19, 25-19 and 25-19.
The Lady Wildcats trailed in the opening set 21-9 and scored 10 of the next 14 points, but Plainview held on for the win.
“We’ve worked hard all season and they show up to give it their best,” Edwards said. “We are very proud of them for their positive attitudes and leadership.”
Rice played a solid back row as she has done throughout the season.
“It just happens,” Rice said of her digging abilities.
“You just see the ball coming and you react, I really don’t know how it happens it just happens.
The senior libero finished with 10 digs and 20 quality service receptions in the match.
Hartington-Newcastle and Cedar Catholic were set to play Oct. 29.
Hartington-Newcastle (10-19) defeats Bloomfield (14-15) 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 15-11. k=Kills, a=Ace Serves, b=Blocks, d=Digs, 2=Set Assists, r=Successfull Passes.
Plainview def. HNS 25-19, 25-19, 25-19.
HNS: Abi Rice 10d, 20r; Hazel Hochstein 6d, 9s, 1r; Ella Eickhoff 4k, 1a, 4d; Maddie Steffen 5k, 2a, 7d, 1s, 14r; Kloe Fischer 1d; Vayda Lippert 4k, 3a, 2d, 7s, 2r; Cohen Paden 4d, 1r; McKenzie Bruning 8k, 2a, 13d, 1s, 11r; Katelyn Wubben 1d; Karissa Bruning 1a, 3d, 1r.
