Box Score Watertown, N.D. - Comet Volleyball opened up at the North Star Conference tournament against the Dakota State Trojans last Thursday. In a wild back and forth game, extra points in the fifth set were needed for Dakota State to take the win.

"Inevitably, our ending was heartbreaking, but there's even more greatness that can be remembered about this season," said head coach Katie Aasen. 

The first set started with the teams trading points. Madison McKinnon's four early kills provided Mayville State with some offensive firepower. With the score knotted at 8, the Trojans managed to score eight straight points to go up 16-8.

The Comets were unable to mount a comeback as the first set went to Dakota State at 25-16.

Set two was about as even a set that could be played, with 16 ties and neither team holding a lead larger than two points for the bulk of the set. At 19-19, the Comets struck the decisive blow with a four point run to get to 23-19, then held off the Trojans to even the match with a 25-21 win.

Mayville State raced out to an early 7-1 advantage in set three, only to see the Trojans mirror that run which tied the game at 8. Dakota State then used an 8-0 run to turn a two point deficit into a 16-10 lead and cruised to a 25-16 win.

Again, the teams played very evenly throughout the start of set four, with multiple small lead changes and ties. The Trojans used four straight points to take a 17-15 lead.

Needing to win this set to continue this season, the Comets turned to their seniors and rattled off ten straight points to win the set and tie the match 25-17!

Thyra Peterick notched three kills and two blocks during this stretch, as Calyn Crockett and Elora Passa added 2 kills and a block apiece.

Both teams faced the end of their seasons in set five, and with a large crowd bolstered by a high school match later in the evening the energy level was turned up to 11.

The Trojans took the early lead at 7-4, but the Comets responded with four straight points to claim an 8-7 advantage. Mayville State bumped up the lead 13-10, but the Trojans came back to retake the lead at 15-14.

An Elora Passa kill tied the score at 15, but Dakota State managed to secure the final two points to win the match 17-15.

Elora Passa stuffed the stat box with 13 kills, 29 assists and 22 digs. Peterick led the Comets with 15 kills and blocked six shots. Nicole Kortan also collected 13 kills and McKinnon finished with 12.

Payton Richter racked up 23 assists, and Emily Condon dug out 25 attacks, followed closely by Natalie Hadrava with 23.

2023 Season Wrap Up

The Comets finish their season with a 15-11 record and 6-6 in North Star Play. Mayville State will say good bye to 7 decorated seniors this year. 

Nicole Kortan - Sauk Centre, Minn.
Payton Richter - Casselton, N.D.
Thyra Peterick - Hatton, N.D.
Elora Passa - Barnesville, Minn.
Natalie Hadrava - Laporte, Minn.
Kylee Baumgarn - Lakota, N.D.

"Every single one of them [the seniors] overcame challenges and persevered no matter what they were faced with, whether it was an injury or a big life challenge. There teammates adored them and respected them to the maximum," said Aasen.

"They will hold special places in my heart for the rest of my life! They made me a better coach and a better me and I think that's incredible. I love them all and can't wait to see them do big things, they're just getting started and that's the best part," an emotional Aasen commented about the seniors.

Athletic Director, Rocky Larson, is happy to announce that Katie Aasen will return to Mayville State Volleyball as the head coach for the 2024 season.

"We are excited that Katie has agreed to stay on for another fall. She has been recruiting hard and this is what the current team wanted. I am excited to see what she can do with one full year under her belt," commented Larson.