LA CYGNE — They started slowly, dropping the first games in both of their matches. IOLA’S JUNIOR varsity split its matches.
But Iola High’s finish was what counted Tuesday evening.
The Fillies picked up a pair of key Pioneer League victories in a triangular match against Osawatomie and host Prairie View.
Iola started with a hard-fought, three-set win over host Prairie View, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19.
The Fillies then struggled at the start against Osawatomie, dropping their first game, 25-6. Iola rebounded in short order, however, winning the final two sets, 25-20, 25-18.
“These were big league wins for us tonight,” head coach Emily Sigg said. “We started very slowly, but we turned it on when it counted and got the win.”
The players wore special pink jerseys in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Several hitters shined in the win over Prairie View, Iola’s third in four matches against the Buffalos this season. Emery Driskel pounded down 14 kills with nine solo blocks, while Ashlie Shields had six kills in eight attempts — a whopping .625 kill percentage. Kyra Moore had 10 assists. Six different players had an ace. Driskel also led the team with two digs.
Driskel had eight kills, one solo block and four assisted blocks in the win over Osawatomie. Addie Haar followed with six kills. Moore had eight assists.
The Fillies JV defeated the Buffalos, 25-29, 25-23, 15-10, and lost in three sets to Osawatomie, 23-25, 25-14, 15-11.
The Fillies freshmen picked up a pair of wins, downing Prairie View, 25-7, 25-15, and Osawatomie, 29-27, 25-21.
Alexis Heslop, Jadyn Sigg and Riley Murry were the team’s leading servers, ninth-grade head coach Jeff Fehr said. Murry and Toni Macha were leaders in kills. Sydney Wade led them in assists.
“This was, by far, our best performance as a team,” Fehr said. “We did all the right things to fight for our wins, especially the 29-27 win over Osawatomie.”
The Fillies return home Tuesday to host Osawatomie and Wellsville in two more league matches.
Iola def. Prairie View, 2-1
(22-25, 25-18, 25-19)
Addie Haar, 3 kills, 1 ace
Ashlie Shields, 6 kills,1 ace, 1 solo block
Kyra Moore, 10 assists, 1 ace
Emma Piazza, 4 kills, 9 assists, 1 ace, 1 dig
Emery Driskel, 14 kills, 1 assist, 1 ace, 2 digs, 9 solo blocks
Hannah Endicott, 1 ace
Mikaela Platt, 3 kills
Halie Cleaver, 1 dig
Iola def. Osawatomie, 2-1
(6-25, 25-20, 25-18)
Haar, 6 kills
Shields, 1 kill, 1 ace, 1 block assist
Moore, 8 assists, 1 ace, 1 block assist
Allie Cleaver, 1 dig
Piazza, 3 kills, 2 assists, 1 solo block, 2 block assists
Driskel, 8 kills, 1 ace, 1 solo block, 4 block assists
Endicott, 1 dig
Platt, 2 kills, 1 solo block
Fillies finish off Buffs, Trojans
