Grafton's Molly Bjorneby helps Team Blue pick up split in N.D. Optimist all-star volleyball series

MANDAN, N.D. — Grafton’s Molly Bjorneby had eight kills and eight digs as Team Blue picked up the split in the North Dakota Optimist all-star volleyball series.

Bjorneby had an early kill and dig in the fifth set.

Thompson’s Jordyn Tozer kept Team Red close late in the fifth set with a kill to trim a deficit to 13-11 before Team Blue pulled away.

At set point in the third set, South Prairie’s Azjiah Trader tipped a set from Jamestown’s Edie Hegerle that floated past the opposing block to record the kill and win the frame for Team Blue.

The set victory began a momentum shift that redirected a two-set deficit to a 3-2 victory over Team Red on Tuesday at Mandan High School.

Team Blue won 21-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23 and 15-11 in the match.

Trailing 12-7, Team Blue outscored Team Red 10-2 midway through the third set to run away with the lead. Bismarck High’s Madison Foster recorded a pair of ace serves for Team Blue in the swing.

In the fourth set, Team Red fell behind seven points but countered and tied the set at 21-21 on a kill from Dickinson Trinity’s Bella Kovash. Team Blue had a block, kill and scored on a net violation to force set point.

A pair of attacking errors, trimmed the Team Blue lead to one-point still at set point in the fourth set. West Fargo Sheyenne’s Alexa Killoran hammered a kill for Team Blue through the opposing block to force a fifth set.

Hegerle tallied a few key kills for Team Blue in the fifth set, including one in a four-point swing that gave her team a 9-6 lead. Team Blue continued to pressure Team Red with timely offense to close out the set and complete the reverse sweep.

Trader and Williston’s Madison Collings both led Team Blue with 16 kills. Sheyenne’s Mya Bloedow had two blocks. Foster had 29 digs and two service aces. Hegerle led with 28 assists.

Fargo Shanley’s Katelyn Ommen led Team Red with 20 kills. Addison Klemin totaled 16 kills, six ace-serves and 2-½ blocks. Grand Forks Red River’s Emerson Byron tallied 18 assists and Bismarck Century’s Holland Fitterer had 26 digs.

Team Red won Monday’s contest at Fargo South High School 4-0. An extra set was played in the exhibition all-star volleyball series.

Staff reports and local scoreboards from the Grand Forks Herald Sports desk.