Jeffers volleyball dominates triangular meet
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PAINESDALE -- In the world of geometry, an equilateral triangle is a triangle with three equal sides. In the world of volleyball, a triangular meet is when three teams come together for three games. One such meet took place on Tuesday in Painesdale, as the Jeffers Jets welcomed the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts and the Chassell Panthers to their gym for a best-of-three series.
However, there was nothing equal about this triangular meet as the Jets proved to be the best team on the court as they shut out the Panthers and the Blue Bolts, 2-0 respectively.
Game One – Jeffers over Chassell (25-10, 25-17)
Strong service was the name of the game for the Jets not just in this opening late-afternoon match, but throughout the night.
A 4-1 lead by the Jets morphed into a 10-3 difference, thanks to Amira Helminen. Strong defense and staying in system kept the Jets flying high and to a first-set win by 15 points.
The second set was much the same with Isabel Rajala pushing the Jets out to a 5-0 lead. While the Panthers bounced back and got within three at 12-15 with Oriana Olson at the line, that is as good as it got.
The Jets went on the attack with big kills by Aili Kinnunen (six total) and Helminen (five total). A 20-12 lead ended with Brielle Anderson serving up a 25-17 game winner.
Game Two – Dollar Bay-Tamarack City over Chassell (25-16, 25-13)
The Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts are young. They have only one senior in Laila Bell, and just three juniors.
However, inexperience did not seem to be an issue in their match up against the Panthers, just ask their coach Kristi Bellmore.
"We are a young team, but we are learning to work together," she said. "I like these (triangular) meets, because it gives us an opportunity to see different teams. Something we need."
In the opening set, the Panthers played the Blue Bolts close, but could never catch up to their opponent. They trailed 6-7 and 8-11 before an ace by the Blue Bolts' Hannah Keranen pushed the lead out to 15-10.
Chassell was one and done at the line and the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City six went on to outscore them 25-16.
In the second set, the Blue Bolts and the Panthers knotted at two before the Bolts took a 7-3 lead courtesy of a service run by sophomore Sylvie Kentela.
Then, with Kiya Kemppainen at the line posting several aces, the Bolts took a 20-12 lead and an eventual 25-13 victory.
"Sylvie did a good job as a setter and running the offense," said Bellmore.
Game Three – Jeffers downs Dollar Bay-Tamarack City (25-12, 25-16)
The final game of the night saw the two winners of the previous two matches. The Jets opened the "winner’s round" with a 7-5 lead and never looked back.
An ace by Kylee Kangas at 12-9 turned into a 16-9 lead for the girls in green. Strong service by Ana Sudderth made it 20-10, and Kylee Andrews served up the 25-12 first set win.
"I liked the way the girls communicated and kept the energy up on the floor," said Jets coach Joslynn Jukkila. "We controlled the service line and adapted well with what came over the net. We have been working on some different hitting approaches. As well, I was able to bet everybody in."
The Blue Bolts' best in the second set was 3-1 lead with Ellie Keranen putting the ball over.
After the two teams knotted at four, the Jets took off, jumping ahead 10-6, and then went higher at 19-12.
Brielle Anderson was on the line for the match point and the win.