Click the AUDIO button to hear comments from Rockets Coach Katrina McNamra. Also click the thumbnails to see photos.
PERKINS---The Rapid River High School volleyball team won its second match of the season Thursday night, outlasting the rival Mid Peninsula Wolverines, 3-2, in a marathon match at Mid Pen High School. The scores were 23-25, 25-20, 26-24, 21-25, 15-12. The Rockets program did not win a match in 2022, 2023, or 2024.
“It was wild,” new Rockets volleyball coach Katrina McNamara said. “We had some great rallies. The libero on Mid Pen was just scrappy and she was getting everything. It was awesome. We won some really great rallies. The girls are just ecstatic. They got choked up in the end huddle. They're just on Cloud Nine right now.”
Junior outside hitter Saylor Carlson had eight kills, 12 digs, two service aces, and one block. Fellow junior outside hitter Donna McDonald had eight kills, 27 digs, and three service aces. Junior libero Mady Lindbert had 30 digs and one ace. And defensive specialist Alivia Frappier, another junior, had 31 digs, five service aces, and two kills.
With such a young group of girls, and being in a program that hadn't seen much success in the past, what was the message heading into this season?
“Our words this season are growth, and progression,” McNamara said. “We're om the road two out of three days next week, so, again, just keeping that energy up. Getting that taste of winning is just big for us and we're excited.”
Rapid River improved to 2-2 on the season, after also beating Engadine in a five-set marathon on Aug. 26. The Rockets are on road at Stephenson and Norway next week, before hosting Carney-Nadeau on Sept. 18.
