The Cowgirl volleyball team is once again just one win away from a three-peat trip to U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids and State after turning back Nevada last Wednesday night in Clarion. Set scores were 25-19, 25-19 and 25-17.
Team serving finished at 90.3 percent efficiency, with Morgan Middleton going 16 of 16 with one ace. Alaina Friesleben was 13 of 15 (one), Jadyn Jondle 11 of 11 and Kendall Lienemann 10 of 10 (two). Lexie Lane went 9 of 13 (three) and Nicole Waters 6 of 7.
Friesleben set for 30 assists, with Middleton pounding 25 kills over the net. Lienemann tallied up 10 kills and both Jondle and Summer Traub one apiece. The 60 team digs were led by three in double digits. Jondle finished with 14 as libero, with Middleton at 13 and Friesleben at 12 saves of the ball. Lienemann made nine, Lane six, Waters three, Emma Conlon two and Traub one. Middleton went vertical for two solo blocks, with Lienemann and Traub at one each. Traub made two block assists and Middleton one.
“We served tough again, and had great serve-receive along with scrappy defense,” stated head coach Katrina TerHark. “We got our hands on a lot of balls at the net and kept them out of system with our aggressive serving. Once we got the lead we kept the lead. It was a great night for the Cowgirls!”
Prior to that, they took a three-set win over conference rival Iowa Falls-Alden on Monday by sets of 25-13, 25-12 and 25-19. Team serving finished at 93.2 percent, with Friesleben a perfect 20 of 20. Lane went 13 of 14 (two) and Lienemann 13 of 16. Waters was 8 of 8 (two), Middleton 8 of 9 (two) and Jondle 6 of 6.
Friesleben set the ball for 28 assists, with Middleton putting 29 balls away for points. Lane made 10 kills, Lienemann and Friesleben four each and Traub and Waters one apiece. The 59 digs were divided up well as Jondle made 14, Lienemann 13 and both Friesleben and Middleton eight each. Lane had six, Waters five, Conlon four and Traub one save of the ball. Lane and Middleton made two solo blocks each, with Lexie adding two block assists.
“We came out a little flat but responded and took care of business to get the win,” said TerHark. “We let the Cadets hang around in the third set, but our tough serving came through when needed.”
