Iola Middle School’s seventh-graders are showing progress.
The Mustang A-team put forth a valiant battle, but fell short in a three-set nail-biter against Osawatomie, 25-15, 24-26 and 25-21.
“They showed tremendous improvement,” Mustang head volleyball coach Aubrey Westhoff said.
Brooklyn Holloway led with eight aces, followed by Dally Curry with seven, Kaydra Scheibmeir, Emma Michael and Kinsey Jelinek with six each, Zoe Warner with five and Zoie Hesse and Sheridan Byrd with one each.
“Sheridan did an amazing job playing the net and not letting anything go by her,” Westhoff said. “Brooklyn also had some great kills. This group of girls is so talented. We’re just hoping to get them out of the slump they are in and start winning some games again.”
The B-team played four sets, winning 3 to 1, 28-30, 25-23, 25-16 and 25-14.
“The girls did a great job of talking and going to the line and calling the ball out,” Westhoff said. “They also did a great job of serving.”
Warner led the way with 11 aces followed by Melody Norman with nine, Lacarea Eads with eight Kaydance Frame had six, Lainey Oswald and Maddie McDermeit each had three, Lilli Hirt had two, and Annie House, Ay’Real Davis, Brooklyn Hopkins, Keysha Smith, and Lynsie Fehr all had one apiece.
“Throughout the B-Team sets, Keysha did an excellent job hustling after the ball, following it to the end line, and calling them out,” Westhoff said. “At a critical point in the game, Lacarea had a great third hit giving the girls the momentum to finish.
Iola travels to Pittsburg Thursday.
