Fillies drop opening SEK matches

Not the night of volleyball they wanted.
Iola High’s Fillies celebrated their seniors — Kendra Taiclet, Riana Dolenz, Kelsey Adams and Celeste Ambrose. They were closing out the 2011 home season with a month still left to season.
It was the start of Southeast Kansas League volleyball play. They wanted to open with nothing less than a split at home but better yet a sweep of Pittsburg High’s Purple Dragons and Independence High’s Bulldogs.
It didn’t work out that way. Pittsburg got the sweep beating Iola 25-12, 25-17 and Independence 22-25, 25-16, 26-16. That left the Fillies facing the Bulldogs.
It was a point-by-point type of match until Independence got a little bit of a lead. Iola struggled to score points out of their offense with the serve. The Bulldogs were up 20-16 in the first set and used a five-point run to win it.
Libby Shay had a three-point service run for Iola to put it up 5-3 in the second set. It was 9-9 when the Bulldogs pushed out a four-point lead.
Independence was able to maintain its advantage, winning the set and match. The Bulldogs beat the Fillies 25-16, 25-20.
“We were digging the ball better than at the first of the season and we got our hands on balls at the net,” said Jodi Grover, Fillies’ head coach. “It was disappointing to lose our last home matches on senior night.
“It comes down to giving the extra effort to get the extra step that will determine wins and losses for the next four weeks.”
Iola had several opportunities to take over the match with Pittsburg.
 The Fillies climbed back into the first set from a 7-2 deficit. Taiclet served up three straight and Kyra Moore had two points from the service line to put Iola up 11-10.
It was 11-11 when the Purple Dragons served eight straight points. They were up 21-12 and served out the set on a four-point stint.
Ambrose’s two points from the service line had Iola up 9-7 in the second set but again the Dragons had a five-point run, then a seven-point string to go up 24-13.
Iola held off Pittsburg as Shay, who finished with 12 service points on the night, rattled off four before Pittsburg closed the match on a defensive point.
Taiclet hammered down 13 kills in the two matches and had three solo blocks. She served for four points. Emery Driskel delivered seven kills and one solo block at the net.
Dolenz had three kills, four digs and two service points. Ambrose served up three points, put down three kills and came up with two digs. Moore had two service points and Emma Sigg served up one point.
Shay was credited with 11 set assists and Moore had six set assists. Keli Lee made four digs and Shay had three digs. Chanel Coyne had two kills.
Adams did not play on senior night because a sprained ankle.
Now the Fillies go on the road for the rest of the season. They are at Columbus with Parsons next Thursday.
“We need to find consistency in our game. We’re still searching for six players with the most passion for the game that will go the extra step out there,” Grover said.
“I told our girls that I can take losses if we play hard. Our junior varsity also lost two matches, but they played hard Thursday night.”
Iola’s junior varsity lost 25-19, 25-15 to Pittsburg and dropped a 26-24, 25-19 decision to Independence.
“Nobody likes to lose at home but the girls came together as a team Thursday night. They started playing up to their potential,” said Casey Greenwood, IHS assistant coach.
“The bar has been set even higher after Thursday night because they know what they can do when they choose to.”
Greenwood said every player contributed to strong play. She said wins will come easier when they learn how to keep the lead in sets.
Against Pittsburg, Iola was 31 of 36 in serving, led by Paige Miller’s 5-for-5 with one ace serve. Mackenzie Weseloh, Hannah Endicott and Breanna Stout each had a one ace serve. Karlie Lower and Allie Cleaver also were perfect from the service line.
Endicott put down three kills at the net and Alyssa Zimmerman had two kills. Katie Thompson had one kill and a solo block.
Serving continued to be pretty good for the Fillies against Independence, 31 of 34. Endicott went 11-for-11 at the service line with two aces and Stout had three ace serves. Thompson racked up six kills and had a solo block.
Weseloh, Zimmerman, Endicott and Stout each had one kill. Weseloh put up nine set assists. Endicott and Halie Cleaver each had three digs.