Iola High’s junior varsity volleyball team took visiting Burlington High to the brink Thursday before falling in a fifth-set tiebreaker Monday evening.
Despite the loss, head coach Lori Oestreicher was encouraged.
“We played well,” she said.
Iola defeated Burlington in the first set, 25-21, before the Wildcats rebounded to take sets 2 and 3, 25-14, 25-19.
The squads were evenly matched throughout the fourth set before Iola prevailed, 25-23, to set up the tiebreaker.
Burlington got the early jump and won the tiebreaker, 15-8.
Several Fillies players had strong performances. Shelby Smith delivered six kills, followed by Taylor Sell with three and Katie Shields with two. Taylor Heslop and Cassie Delich had four and two assists, respectively. Shields had six aces, followed by Heslop with four. Joie Whitney led Iola with 35 digs, followed by Delich with 33. Smith and Jessica Oakley each had two solo blocks.
The junior varsity joins Iola’s varsity and ninth-graders for matches todat at Central Heights.
Burlington def. Iola, 3-2
(21-25, 25-14, 25-19, 23-25, 15-8)
Katie Sheilds, 2 kills, 6 aces, 24 digs
Shelby Smith, 6 kills, 13 digs, 2 solo blocks, 5 block assists
Taylor Sell, 3 kills, 2 aces, 24 digs
Taylor Heslop, 4 assists, 4 aces, 25 digs
Joie Whitney, 2 aces, 35 digs
Cassie Delich, 2 assists, 1 ace, 33 digs, 1 block assist
