MILLETTE - After upsetting perennial power Northwestern in regional semifinal action, the Hitchcock-Tulare Lady Patriots had visions of potentially making a run to the state tournament, but the Faulkton Area Trojans instead swept a SoDak match with the Lady Patriots, 25-22, 25-16, and 25-20 Tuesday at Northwestern High School to end the H-T season.

The Lady Patriots came out firing, working up to an 11-5 lead behind dominant net play by H-T, winning the hitting game and stuffing back multiple Trojan hitting attempts.

The Trojans began a comeback coming out of the timeout, drawing a timeout from the Lady Patriots with H-T holding onto a narrow 19-18 lead.

The Trojans utilized strong serving to go on a 7-3 run to finish the set with a 25-22 set win.

The two teams battled back and forth early in the second set, with the Lady Patriots grabbing their first lead of the set at 5-4, but the two teams tied at 6-6, 7-7, and 8-8.

The Trojans then went on an eight-point run before the Lady Patriots scored again, taking control of the match, and H-T couldn’t ever get back into the set, falling in the second set, 25-16.

A big swing by Katelyn Schroeder gave the Lady Patriots the first point of set three, but unfortunately, that would be the last lead Hitchcock-Tulare would hold in the match. After the two teams were tied at 3-3, the Trojans again went on a run, outscoring the Lady Patriots 10-3 to take a 13-6 lead. Hitchcock-Tulare were unable to get within four from that point, falling in the third set 25-20.

The Trojans were led on the attack by Carley Cotton with 17  on 46 of 50 hitting and Addison Melius with 14 kills on 40 of 45 hitting. Cotton also led the Trojans with 28 digs.

The Lady Patriots end the season 24-8. Schroeder led the way for H-T with 15 kills on 37 of 41 hitting.

Cambree Hoekman led the Lady Patriot defense with 19 digs and Lila Johnson had 22 assists on 99 of 100 setting.

Faulkton Area will take a 24-9 record into an opening-round matchup with second-seeded Chester Nov. 16 in the first game of the night session for the State Class “B” volleyball tournament in Rapid City.