SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Mitchell Kernels volleyball stormed back for a dramatic 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-12) victory at Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Thursday night in a back-and-forth, five-set thriller.
After dropping the second and third sets, Mitchell (7-4) regrouped to take the final two sets — 25-18 and 15-12 — and seal the comeback. The win also marked a major career milestone for senior setter Addie Siemsen, who surpassed 1,000 career assists while notching 30 on the night.
Siemsen added a team-high 13 kills, eight digs, and four total blocks in a standout all-around performance. Her efficient attacking — hitting .241 on 29 attempts — paced a balanced Kernel offense that saw three players reach double-digit kills.
Eighth-grader Nia Talley continued her breakout season with 11 kills on just three errors, hitting a team-best .286. She also tallied 11 digs and three assists. Senior Kambyl Wede contributed 10 kills and three blocks, while junior Kenzie Hetland was dominant at the net with seven total blocks, including two solo.
Defensively, senior Kenna Soulek led with 16 digs, while sophomore Londyn Hajek chipped in eight.
Mitchell started strong with a 25-21 first-set win before narrowly dropping the next two sets by identical 25-23 scores. Facing elimination, the Kernels responded with one of their most composed efforts of the season, using clean passing and timely serving — including nine team aces — to flip momentum late.
Mitchell now heads west for a Saturday doubleheader in Spearfish, where they’ll face they face Spartans at 3 p.m., followed by a 5 p.m. matchup against Douglas.