Heading into Tuesdays triangular with Santa Fe Trail and Anderson County, the Iola volleyball team was riding high as winners of three of their last four matches, fresh off of consecutive sweeps.
The Fillies did what could be described as a lateral move, falling in three sets to Santa Fe Trail before winning their second three-set match of the season versus Anderson County.
With the split, Iola moves to 8-13 overall this season.
Were still trying to fight over that hump but were getting closer, said Amanda Strickler, head coach. We showed some real grit tonight. They overcame the head game.
Despite the split, the Fillies showed improvement in both matches from even earlier last month. On Sept. 11, Iola lost at Santa Fe Trail to host Chargers in two sets and fell in three to Anderson County. Forcing Santa Fe Trail to a third set and flipping that third set against Anderson County, prove that the Fillies continue to make incremental progress leading up to sub-state later this month.
Iola versus Santa Fe Trail, 16-26, 26-24 and 17-25.
After letting the first set get away, both teams went back and forth in set two before Iola took a 17-13 lead which forced the Chargers into a timeout.
Santa Fe Trail battled back and took a 19-20 lead before Iola pushed back to lead 23-20. Both teams knotted up again at 24 before Iola got the final two points needed to put the set away.
Set three started strong for the Fillies after both teams tied at seven but thats where the Chargers would leave Iola behind, gaining a small but crucial three-point lead which they held for most of the set until running away at the end, winning 25-17.
Errors killed the Fillies in set three, especially from the serving line, halting any momentum that Iola could put together.
At times were our own worst enemy, Strickler said. We cant miss serves. We get ourselves in the position of complete control and then we just have brain farts. We let Santa Fe Trail get away from us.
Piper Moore led the Fillies with six kills in the match, followed by four for Ellie Carson and Shaylee Sutterby. Becca Sprague had 12 assists, Hannah Gardner and Mia Aronson each had 11 digs and Lauryn Holloway had three blocks.
After resting while the Chargers swept Anderson County, Iola got back out and handled the Bulldogs in a close set one, 25-21.
The Fillies got down midway through the set, trailing 15-12 but rallied to take the lead at 19-18, holding on for the win.
But the fight disappeared in set two as Iola trailed 10-1 early and never recovered. Anderson County walked away with an easy 25-11 set two win to even the match.
