Fillies fall in two heartbreakers on Senior Night

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Sports

October 11, 2017 - 12:00 AM

Senior night did not go how the Iola volleyball team would’ve hoped on Tuesday. The Fillies dropped their final two home matches versus Santa Fe Trail and Osawatomie.
Both were emotional, back and forth, three-set affairs that in the end just didn’t go Iola’s way. And, as some tears were wiped away, it was a time for reflection for Karly McGuffin, Colbi Riley, Madi Carlin, Chloe Gardner and Katie Bauer as they walked off the court they have called home for the past four years for the final time.
“I think throughout high school we’ve definitely put in a lot of work,” Bauer said. “I just have been really blessed with great teammates and when we don’t finish as strong as we want, at least we had a fun season.”
For head coach Emily Hampton, the first-year varsity skipper and former JV coach for these seniors who received flowers, candy, balloons and well wishes from their teammates on Tuesday, she will remember these five as resilient forces that have gone through their trials over the years.
“When they see struggle and have reached a point where they’re down, they’ll fight back,” Hampton said. “They know where that moment is.”
Hampton said she has come to appreciate the girls’ attitudes.
“I know I’m very focused and driven and their levity is sometimes necessary so that we all can just take a second,” and re-evaluate the situation.
Both matches played out in similar fashion Tuesday. A strong effort forced first set wins over both the Lady Chargers and Trojans but somewhere along the way in sets two and three, what at times felt like sure victory slowly slipped from their hands.
“They had a drive,” Hampton said. “They weren’t going to let any moment get taken away from them but as the match went on they started to back off. They let stuff go, allowed easy shots and they needed to keep pushing. That was our struggle tonight to never let up for a second.”
The Fillies fell 1-2 to Santa Fe Trail (26-24, 15-25, 18-25).
Junior Piper Moore led the way with 14 kills and two aces while Riley had six kills. Junior Shaylee Sutterby had three aces and the team’s only block.
Iola then lost 1-2 to Osawatomie (25-16, 22-25, 23-25).
Set one couldn’t have looked easier for the Fillies. Iola only recorded five kills in the set but they were strong from the serving line, putting up eight aces.
They started into set two with the same scoring pace, grabbing a five-point lead until a serving rally from Trojan freshman Madison Ballou helped Osawatomie take control of the match and get the Fillies out of system.
“They’re used to having a slow start and then making a push and I think that tripped them up a little bit, how fast they were moving,” Hampton said. “Once they had that momentum, it was a really hard thing for them to maintain. It’s really hard when you know they’re capable and it doesn’t fall through like you wanted to.”
Osawatomie led for the duration of set three until Iola battled their way back to take a 21-20 lead. Points went back and forth and it seemed as if victory was in hand as the Fillies took a crucial 24-23 lead and was about to serve what could’ve been a match point before an official called the point off due to an Iola wrist getting into the net.
With the score tied again and the serving advantage with the Trojans, they made quick work of the final two points to clinch the match.
“It was hard to rally from it,” Hampton said. “It’s such a psychological game. We went in three against Osawatomie last time too so the girls, this was one that they really wanted. They wanted to prove themselves. It was definitely a disappointment for them.”
The Fillies will compete in the Anderson County Invitational on Saturday before competing in their final conference match of the season facing Wellsville and host Prairie View before heading to Burlington for sub-state while they’ll face the Wildcats. Girard and Parsons HS for a chance at state.

 

PHOTO: Iola Fillie seniors Karly McGuffin, Madi Carlin, Chloe Gardner, Katie Bauer and Colbi Riley pose after being recognized between their two matches at home on Tuesday. They fell to both Santa Fe Trail and Osawatomie in three sets in their final matches at home. REGISTER/TIMOTHY EVERSON

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