Iola Middle School’s volleyball teams took the court against Royster Middle School on Tuesday afternoon in Iola.
Following the seventh-grade A and B teams, coach Terri Carlin and coach Korenne Gryzbowski led their eighth-grade A and B squads to a split decision against the Rockets.
The Ponies’ A team played a solid first set and nearly had victory in sight with the score tied at 18. But a late 7-1 run by the Rockets gave them the first set.
“We did a good job moving to the ball and made some good plays at the net,” Carlin said.
In the second set, Carlin said her team didn’t come out with the same consistency as it did in the first so the Ponies fell 25-8 to drop the game 2-0.
Iola was led by its setters, Haley Carlin and Jill Keller, who each had two assists. Carlin also added two kills and a service ace while Keller also recorded a kill.
Allie Fager led the team with three service aces, Sadrie Overall had one and Raylea Wilson and Caleigh Porter each had one kill on the night.
As for the eighth-grade B team, Gryzbowski led her team to a 2-1 victory over Royster (25-19, 13-25, 17-15).
Breanna Northcutt helped boost Iola toward a win with eight straight serves in the first set, which included the set-winning service ace.
After dropping the second set, the Ponies faced a game deciding third set that was supposed to go to 15. The Ponies had a 13-5 lead and the game in hand until the Rockets stormed back to take a 14-13 lead.
Iola’s players didn’t let the blown lead get them down, however, and they went on to take the set 17-15.
Northcutt finished the game with nine service aces and an assist.
Kristin Lamb added three more service aces while Maria Lansdown and Makayla Perez each recorded a kill.
IMS volleyball plays host to rival Royster
