Sports News

The defending state volleyball champions are 1-1 after the first week of the 2007 season.
Hillsboro, after dropping a 3-1 match at Northern Cass Aug. 30, beat Larimore, 3-0, Tuesday night.
The Burros, who played MayPort-CG in Hillsboro last night, will participate in the annual Central Cass tournament Saturday at Casselton. Hillsboro went 5-1 in the Volley in the Valley tourney last year.
The Burros had little trouble in dispatching Larimore Tuesday. Scores of the match were 25-7, 25-19 and 25-21. The three-game match was played in an hour.
Jamie Rerick, a first-year coach in Hillsboro’s 2006 title year and coaching the Burros against this year, saw an improved team beat the Polar Bears.
“We definitely played as a team, which is what I was looking for.”
Freshman Mikkaela Toenies, daughter of former coach Scott Toenies, played a pivotal role in the three-game victory over the Bears.
Toenies, 5-6, had eight kills.
“She had a great game,” said Rerick.
Katrina Meyer had six kills, Jenessa Duval five and Ashley Doeden four. Allison Bertsch had three serve aces. Joelle Evenson served up 18 assists.
Hillsboro was beaten soundly by the Kalli Fenske-led Jaguars of Northern Cass. The Jaguars shutdown the Burros, 25-18, 24-26, 25-21 and 25-19.
The inexperienced Burros, Rerick offered, were “nervous and played nervous.”
Once we calmed down, she said, “we started playing better as a team. We did some good things through the match, our serves were consistent and we covered the hitters very well.’
We have some things to work on, she added
Northern Cass, on the other hand, played like a veteran team.
“They’re strong and quick. They’re a good team,” said the Burro coach.
The Jaguars easily beat Central Valley (3-1) and MayPort-CG (3-0) in their first two matches.
Ashley Doeden had 13 kills against Northern Cass. Libero Brittany Wilson played a “great” defensive game for the Burros, said coach Rerick.
Hillsboro returns to Casselton Tuesday night to face the Central Cass Squirrels. Norman County West plays on the Burros’ home court next Thursday night.
The rush of matches continues with Hillsboro entered in the annual Valley City volleyball tournament next Saturday (Sept. 15).