Shane Merrill | Sports Writer
The Parker volleyball squad was coming off two tough losses to conference teams, but traveled to the Pentagon in Sioux Falls looking to rebound.
First in the bracket for the day was Great Plains Lutheran out of Watertown. The Pheasants wasted little time on the Panthers, winning with set scores of 25-15 and a tougher set two 25-23. Parker trailed late in the set, but superb net play as well as well as knowing their out of bounds lines allowed the Pheasants to complete the comeback for the win.
Their second set of the day was against arch rival Sioux Valley. Parker had lost to the Cossacks in their early season matchup, but this time the Pheasants were able to compete the win in an exciting 2-1 victory. The first set was controlled by Parker who were up by as many as 10 points before the Cossacks came dangerously close, 22-20. Parker rattled off three straight to end the set taking the win 25-20.
The second set was the Cossacks who nabbed the lead early and never looked back, tying the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 victory. The final set was back and forth early, but an offensive burst late in the game was just what the Pheasants needed, winning 25-20.
In their semi final match the Pheasants met up with a tough foe in Parkston. Parker used impressive serving and net play to gain their biggest win of the season, going up by as many as 15-0 and taking the win 25-5. It seemed the Pheasants were a near lock for the match victory after the blowout win, but the Trojans somehow found a way to rebound, winning the second set 25-20 and the third set 25-23 after the pair was tied at 23.
The loss to the eventual champions was disappointing, but the Pheasants still had one game to play. They met up with Elkton-Lake Benton, but were more sluggish and struggled to get any offense going as the Elks won convincingly, 25-15 and 25-15.
The tournament dropped the Parker record to 11-9 on the season, with another tough week looming as Parker will face Madison and Garretson.
Parker volleyball drops two
The Parker Pheasant volleyball team was coming off a disappointing finish at the Pentagon tournament, where they say their hopes at a championship slip away.
This week Parker traveled to Madison and Garretson for their two matches, and although were close once again could not close the gap.
In their opening week match the Pheasants faced the Bulldogs of Madison. The Pheasants came just points away from pulling an upset, but ran out of steam, losing in a five setter, 3-2. Parker won the first set going away, 25-15 and snuck in the second set in thrilling fashion 27-25. Madison ran with the next three sets 25-10, 25-13 and 15-4, rebounding for the victory.
In their second match of the week Parker traveled to Garretson to face a very stout Blue Dragon team. The Pheasants nearly pulled upsets in the first two. But Garretson was too much down the stretch, taking the wins 25-21, 25-22 and running away with the third 25-12.
Parker will next face Lennox.
