Vikings win late-night finals thriller over DC-S

Sophomore Maggie Lutz soars for this potential kill as Dundy County-Stratton battled Bertrand in Tuesday night’s RPAC title match at McCook Community College.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Midnight never arrived as East No. 3-seed Bertrand finished its Cinderella RPAC title quest at 10:59 p.m. over Dundy County-Stratton Tuesday night.

The Bertrand Vikings (14-9 record) took down East No. 2 Alma Monday night, then stopped defending RPAC Southern Valley in Tuesday’s second semifinal match.

Dundy County-Stratton (16-7 record) was playing its third straight RPAC title match, winning in 2016 and losing a tough battle to Southern Valley last season.

The Tigers shook off a 25-15 opener much like their semifinal against Hitchcock County earlier on Tuesday.

Seniors Adaelene Krutsinger and Grace Frederick both unleashed a string of kills to take those next two sets 25-19, 25-17.

However, the determined Vikings conquered a roller-coaster fourth set. They led 6-0, trailed 10-8 and went in front again 16-10 en route to their 25-19 victory.

A balanced, athletic Bertrand squad fell behind more than once during that dramatic fifth set.

Yet senior outside hitter Grace Schwarz regained her power while classmates Johanna Ford and Lindsay Schutz began delivering clutch blocks.

Sophomore setter Erin Boggs kept the Vikings moving with her bouncy, non-stop enthusiasm.

Others like senior libero Jada High also contributed key plays.

Eventually, the Vikings rallied one more time to capture that final set by a 15-12 final count.

Coach Kevin Lavene directed the Vikings to this late-night victory. Official stats were not obtained.