North Central Conference foe Algona was the visiting Cowgirl opponent last Thursday in a home match, and the Bulldogs proved no match for the ladies as they feasted on home cooking in a three-set sweep. Scores were 25-9, 25-15 and 25-11.
Set one had a 14-5 lead for the Cowgirls force Algona to call timeout to regroup. With Nicole Waters serving, a net call gave them a 16-5 advantage. A Kendall Lienemann kill shot was blocked by Algona but went out for a 17-5 score. A Bulldog point was followed by another Lienemann point for 18-6. Lexie Lane then stepped up to smash a ball over to make it 19-6, with another Algona point followed by Alaina Friesleben getting into the act to make it 20-7.
With the score at 21-7, Lane went to the serving line and delivered a ball that Algona couldn’t find the handle on to make it 22-7. An official’s net call brought them to within two of the set win, and after a Bulldog point Morgan Middleton smashed the ball over from the left side for set point. Morgan then sealed the win from the right side.
The second set saw a Middleton kill from the right make it 18-9. Algona then went on a very brief run before Middleton ended it with another patented kill shot for a 19-11 margin. The visitors couldn’t return the next serve to make it 20-11, and a bit later a Bulldog block-back made it 21-13 as they tried to desperately hang on. After the Cowgirls couldn’t handle a return, the Bulldogs tightened the score to 21-15. The home ladies were then helped by two straight net calls in their favor for a 23-15 margin. After Algona couldn’t return the serve, the Cowgirl serve for the set win had Waters kill shot not being returned to take a 2-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs were not about to go down easily in the third set, as a brief run brought the score to 17-10 Cowgirls. Middleton then said ‘no more’, and delivered a ball across that the visitors couldn’t grab for 18-10. That key moment started a nice Cowgirl run that would eventually decide the set, as another serve they couldn’t return was followed by another Middleton smash and a Delia Swanson block-back that found an open spot. A net call made it 23-10 and the Cowgirls never had to look back from there. After spotting them their final point, Middleton made her last kill of the night followed by a serve the visitors couldn’t handle for the win.
“We started off strong in front of our home crowd,” said a pleased head coach Katrina TerHark. “Our tough serving continues to keep teams out of system, as we had 12 aces as a team on the night. Our serve receive and defense continued to battle, as we were able to run our offense at will. This was a great way for us to get ready for going to Osage.”
Team serving was at 93.2 percent, with Lane a perfect 22 of 22 with four aces. Friesleben was 16 of 17 (2), Middleton 9 of 10 (3), Jadyn Jondle 8 of 9 (2), Waters 7 of 8 (1) and Lienemann 6 of 7. Friesleben set for 33 assists, with Middleton pounding 26 kills. Lienemann and Summer Traub had four each, Lane two and Friesleben and Waters one each.
Jondle made 10 digs at her libero position, with Middleton making five and both Lienemann and Emma Conlon four each. Swanson and Traub had one save of the ball each. Middleton made a solo block, with Lane and Traub getting a block assist each.
The red & black went 2-2 at a tough Osage Invitational on Saturday. Their opening match had the makings of a dandy, as the third-ranked (3A) Cowgirls faced second-rated (3A) Osage. The host team prevailed 25-18 and 25-18. Team serving was at 84.8 percent, with Lienemann at 8 of 9. Friesleben made 10 assists as setter, with Middleton registering seven kills. Freiesleben and Lienemann made five digs each. With Middleton, Waters and Lane grabbing one solo block each.
They defeated Charles City by scores of 23-21 and 21-16. Serving was at 83.7 percent, with Lienemann 12 of 13 (2). Freisleben made 12 assists to set up Middleton for 12 kills. Jondle had eight digs, with lienemann and Middleton at seven each. Lane made a solo block on defense at the net.
They kept it going with a win over Gilbert by scores of 21-16 and 21-18. Serving was at 95.1 percent, with Friesleben going 8 of 8 as well as setting for 16 assists. Middleton made 13 kills, with Lienemann and Lane adding three apiece from their spots on the floor. Jondle made 10 digs, with Lienemann and Friesleben adding nine each. Lane went vertical for two solo blocks and two assisted blocks.
They finished against a perennial state tournament school, and multi-time state champion, in Dike-New Hartford. The Wolverines (number two in 2A) won in two straight by scores of 21-8 and 21-17. Team serving was at 92.3 percent, with Middleton at 6 of 6 (1) and both Lienemann and Friesleben 5 of 5. Friesleben made 11 assists to set up Middleton for 13 kills. Jondle made nine digs, with Friesleben and Lienemann adding five each. Lane had a solo block and a block assist.
For the day, Lienemann went 30 of 32 in serves with two aces. Friesleben was 26 of 27 (two), Lane 21 of 25 (four), Middleton 19 of 20 (two), Jondle 15 of 18 (one) and Waters 11 of 13 (one). Friesleben made 49 assists, with Middleton totaling 45 kills. Lienemann added seven and Lane six.
Jondle had 31 digs, with Lienemann and Friesleben at 26 apiece. Middleton had 15 saves of the ball, Conlon nine and Waters four. Lane made five total solo blocks and three block assists. Middleton had one solo and one assist, while Waters had one solo.
