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No state tournament experience. No problem.

At least not for Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock.

Senior Lacey Ryckman had 13 kills and two blocks and senior Christa Nagel added 10 kills and two aces as the Lions defeated Flasher 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-16) in the first round of the state Class B volleyball tournament Thursday at the Minot State University Dome.

It is the co-op's first win at a state volleyball tournament.

"We were really nervous, but I think we didn't treat this match like it was different from any other one," Ryckman said. "The only thing different was the feeling, playing here at state in front of the crowd."

The Lions did not show their nerves early on, if at all.

They jumped out to 14-9 lead in the opening game and led 11-6 in the second. Flasher hardly threatened the Lions at any point of the match.

"I think (the girls) were focused on the job I asked them to do," Lions head coach Jaime Richter said. "We knew we had to play good defense on their two middles and I thought we did that. They did a good job of knowing where they were at and blocking some of their balls.

"We didn't play our best, but we did enough."

Senior Allison Schick finished with 12 kills and a block and senior Kelsie Bentz added eight kills for Flasher, which plays Wyndmere-Lidgerwood in a consolation match today.

"The story for us is what we didn't get done," Flasher head coach Jerlyn Gabrielson said. "We didn't have our setters connecting with our hitters as strong as we usually do. We usually hit really well from a couple different places on the net and just didn't do that."

Sophomores Robin Weber and Kayln Schneider each finished with four kills, while junior Paula Nagel had 24 digs and senior Katelyn Kalberer 14 assists for the Lions, who play Kenmare in today's semifinal round.

"I think we frustrated (Flasher) because once they thought they could block the middle, we would switch it to the outside," Richter said. "Changing it up with my offense really helped out."

Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock 3, Flasher 0

Flasher 15 21 16

L-H-M-B 25 25 25

Flasher - Kills: Allison Schick 12, Kelsie Bentz 8, Jorie Schmidt 6, Callee Schmidt 4, Lindsey Ruscheinsky 2, Samantha Lawson 1. Assists: Carly Ruscheinsky 16, Jorie Schmidt 13, Schick 1, Lawson 1; Aces: Jorie Schmidt 1; Blocks: Schick 1; Digs: Aricka Schick 15, Callee Schmidt 15, Lawson 12, Carly Ruscheinsky 11, Jorie Schmidt 9, Allison Schick 8, Lindsey Ruscheinsky 6, Bentz 3.

L-H-M-B - Kills: Lacey Ryckman 13, Christa Nagel 10, Robin Weber 4, Kayln Schneider 4, Alexis Jasper 3, Jessica Weiser 1, Katelyn Kalberer 1; Assists: Kalberer 14, Whitney Gerving 7, Jasper 3, Weiser 2, Weber 2, Sarah Nagel 2, Paula Nagel 1; Aces: Sarah Nagel 2, Christa Nagel 2, Weber 1; Blocks: Ryckman 2, Jasper 1, Christa Nagel 1; Digs: Paula Nagel 24, Ashlee Feist 10, Sarah Nagel 5, Christa Nagel 3, Weber 2, Kalberer 1, Ryckman 1, Schneider 1, Weiser 1.