In their best outing yet this season, the Eagle volleyball team kept battling and never giving up in a 3-2 loss last Tuesday at Britt to West Hancock. Set scores were W25-23, L25-23, W25-25-24, L25-22 and L15-8.
The team serving was at 86.0 percent, with Braxton Steil making 20 of 21 with an ace. Emmy Huse set for eight assists, while Steil recorded eight kills in the attack at the net. Three ladies had four digs each on defense, while Maddie Blomgren made two solo blocks.
“The girls were finally able to get a taste of victory,” stated head coach Alyssa Dooley. “This is the first time in my three years as head coach that we’ve gone five sets with an opponent. It was fun to see them battle to the end. Ultimately we would have loved walking away from Britt with the win, but I’m happy with the progress we’re making.”
In a home match on Thursday, they dropped three straight sets to Belmond-Klemme by scores of 25-11, 25-7 and 25-13. Set one saw the visiting Broncos jump out to a 17-8 advantage, followed by the Eagles finding new life offensively and finding open spots on the opposite court for some points. With the score at 21-10 B-K, a hit that went long by the Broncos made it 21-11. However, the home ladies couldn’t sustain the momentum and went on to lose the set.
The second set saw B-K up 14-2 before Blomgren tapped it over for a point. The rally was short, as the visitors reeled off four straight before a kill attempt went into the net giving the Eagles a point and the serve. A Bronco hit that went long added another, and Steil served the ball for another point. With the score at 22-6 a bit later, the Eagles would get their final point of the set before dropping the last three serves.
Set three saw the Eagles get their second wind in taking their very first lead of the night at 8-7. The Broncos proceeded to outscore them 3-2 to go up by a point, but later a B-K serve that went long cut it to 11-10. When the deficit increased to 13-10, coach Dooley called a timeout to regroup her squad. With the Broncos up 16-10, another B-K kill shot went long as the Eagles picked up another desperately needed point to hang in the match. That was followed by a net call by the official for a 17-11 score. It became 21-12 a bit later before another Bronco serve into the net gave the Eagles there 13th point. That would end up being as close as they would get, as the visitors served the match out from there.
Team serving finished at 89.3 percent efficiency, with Jeske 6 of 6 with an ace. Blomgren pounded three kills, Jeske made three digs and Steil went vertical for a solo block.
The team hosts Lake Mills this Thursday, then goes to St. Edmond next Monday.
