BISMARCK – Jamestown Blue Jays Volleyball was pumped up and started well, but their opponent showed power and tough defense and ended the Blue Jays’ state championship dream.
Davies rallied from a set down to defeat Jamestown Thursday in the NDHSAA AA State Volleyball Tournament, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24, 25-13 in the quarterfinal round at the Bismarck Event Center.
Powerful outside hitter Fallon Passanante led Davies with 29 kills and 21 digs. Ava Leingang had nine kills. Quinn Skari had 50 set assists as the Eagles (29-7) racked up 62 kills.
Lucy Falk had 17 kills and 20 digs for Jamestown (21-13). Amelia Newman had 11 kills and two blocks. Claire Marker notched six kills. Mari Anderson had three and a half blocks. Jetta Peterson made 36 digs.
Jamestown led 15-6 during the first set, but a 13-5 run by Davies brought the Eagles even at 21. Passanante had three of her kills and Katelyn Krenz had three consecutive aces during that run. Anderson then had a kill and two aces for set point and Newman killed to give the Blue Jays a one-set lead.
Another good start gave Jamestown leads of 6-2 and 9-5 in the second set, but Davies gradually came back. Down 19-17, Davies used kills from Reinke and Passanante to tie and a JHS attack error to led 20-19. After Haley Attleson killed for the Blue Jays, a service error and attack error gave the Eagles a 22-20 advantage. Falk had a kill and Anderson a stuff block for a 22-22 tie, but Passanante and Reinke killed and Ava Bolton blocked to even the match.
Four kills by Newman brought Jamestown back from 9-4 down to 10-9 ahead in set three. Newman killed for a 21-19 lead, but Davies scored four of five for a 23-22 lead. An Eagle service error and attack error gave Jamestown a set point, but Passanante had three straight kills for a 26-24 Davies win of the third.
At 6-6 in the fourth set, Jamestown was still in the set and match. That’s when Davies ran away with a 15-3 run. Jaelynn Johnson had two kills and Passanante had three. Her last kill ended the match.
Jamestown will meet Bismarck High Friday in the consolation round. Coverage will begin at 2:45 PM on The Voice of the Blue Jays, Jamestown 107.1.