Anni Stier gets ready to send back a hit from North Star's Peyton Halverson during the first home game of the season for the Rugby Panthers (Lori Gronvold)

The RHS Volleyball team competed against North Star on Tuesday evening, losing 3-0.

Rugby totaled 16 in game one, with North Star beating them with a score of 25. In game two, North Star again won with a score of 25 against Rugby’s score of 8. Game three ended with North Star seizing the win at 28-13.

Rugby’s Maria Blessum and Madison Uhlenkamp rounded out the team, each with five kills during the span of the three game match. Blessum also acquired an impressive 25 digs, while Uhlenkamp was able to complete eight blocks. Sara Stier also helped guide the team, with a total of four kills and 20 digs.

Other notable performances were from Alissa Volk, with three aces and five assists; Abby Volk with nine assists; and Jacque Blessum with seven blocks.

“We played a very tough team,” Jessica Fritz, Head Coach, said. “Our girls had their work cut out for them, and they took the challenge head on. We are learning a new offense this year and putting girls in new positions, and they are adjusting quickly to this. We will continue to work on serve, receive and coverage to better improve our game.”

At a tournament in Bottineau last Saturday, the team finished 1st in the pool play based on tie breakers. The team won two out of the four sets played.

In the first pool play match, Rugby played against TGU. The first set totaled TGU with 25 and Rugby with 21; the second set totaled TGU with 10, Rugby with 25.

Again, Madison Uhlenkamp was a top player, with four kills and four blocks. Anni Stier had three kills, as did Karsyn Hager. Sara Stier had three kills, two blocks and seven aces. Christine Vetsch came in with five digs; and both Abby and Alissa Volk helped with five assists.

The second pool play match was RHS against Underwood. Underwood won the first set with a score of 25 to Rugby’s 22. Rugby came back in the second set, however, winning with a score of 25 to Underwood’s 22.

In this match, Maria Blessum, Sara Stier, Madison Uhlenkamp, Christine Vetsch, Abby Volk and Alissa Volk were again top players.

In the first tournament play, Rugby beat Newberg Westhope 25-10 and 25-11.

In the second tournament play, Rugby beat Velva 25-22 and 25-21.

In the last tournament play against North Star, Rugby lost 25-17 and 25-11.

Top players were Maria Blessum, Jacque Blessum, Sara Stier, Anni Stier, Madison Uhlenkamp, Christine Vetsch, Abby Volk and Alissa Volk in the tournament play.