I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.
Oct. 2, 1998
By Devlyn Brooks
Playing brilliantly at times and disappointing at others, the Bemidji High volleyball team dropped a four-set match (15-5, 6-15, 15-4, 15-10) to Grand Rapids Thursday.
The loss dropped the Jacks to 12-5 on the season, while Grand Rapids improved to 9-4.
The Jacks, who rattled off several impressive multi-point rallies throughout the match, just couldn't put a steady game together versus the tough "Hawks."
At times Bemidji's front line of Lindsay Sand, Tara Sande and Megan Benson was formidable, blocking and handcuffing Grand Rapids. But at other times, the Jacks' blocks weren't there, and the rest of the defense just wasn't to be found.
Bemidji opened the first game with a 4-0 lead on four Hawks' errors, before Grand Rapids would battle back to take the lead 6-5.
Two more runs of our points each -- mostly points earned on Grand Rapids kills -- and the game was over.
In game two, Bemidji fared better, making a large 7-0 lead early. The Hawks did protest some, gaining a few points sporadically on Bemidji hitting errors, but the Jacks closed quickly on several Hawks' errors, a couple of blocks and a couple of spikes to win 15-6.
Losing a game didn't sit well with the Hawks as they took revenge, wrapping up game three 15-4. Bemidji's points came on an early four-point run, but it was the only offense they could establish the entire game. Two of the points were Sand service aces.
The Hawks were so dominate in game three, that at one point, they strung together nine points on the serve of senior Jenna Webb.
The Jacks seemed to be pushing the Hawks into the fifth set tiebreaker in the fourth game, but lost their composure when the Hawks fought their way back into the game.
After giving up four points, Bemidji took a brief lead at 6-4 on a six-point rally. Junior Jenny Frisk scored two on service aces.
Then both teams traded several sideouts before Bemidji jumped to a 10-6 lead on two Hawks' errors, a block and a Kendra Goetz kill.
However, that is when the Jacks stalled, and Grand Rapids scored nine unanswered points to wrap up the match.
The Jacks next action is Saturday when they travel to the Virginia Invitational with the "B" team not playing until Thursday versus Fergus Falls at home.
"B" Team
The junior varsity dropped a three-set match to Grand Rapids 8-15, 15-13, 15-6, after opening with an impressive first set.
The loss dropped them to 12-5 on the year, and they will not see action again until Thursday against Fergus Falls.
"C" Team
The C-1 and C-2 teams split with the Thunderhawks, with C-1 winning in three sets 15-1, 9-15, 15-13.
C-2, which doesn't play as often as its counter part, dropped their match in two sets 15-9, 15-9.
The C-1 team improved its unbeaten season to 14-0-1, and the C-2 team fell to 2-3 on the season.
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