Middle School Volleyball: Iola Ponies
The Iola Pony eighth grade volleyball A-team came away with a sweep Thursday over Anderson County. The B-Team fell in five sets.
The A-team won 25-23, 25-16 and 25-18.
This was a great way to start the season, head coach Terri Carlin said. The girls really worked well together. Each player did what they needed to do for us to win. I was so proud of how they kept focus during the entire match. We had a great serving night, only missing a few.
Aysha Houk led the Ponies in both aces and kills with seven and three respectively.
Aysha is playing her first year of volleyball and is developing some great control on her serves, Carlin said. She is aggressive at the net.
Cali Riley also had a strong showing at both the serving line and the net, delivering four aces, two kills and an assist.
(Riley) has been working very hard in practice to get better at the net and she also has been working to improve her overhand serve, Carlin said. That really paid off for us tonight as she made some great plays.
Louise Caron had an ace, Dallyn McGraw and Celina Caron each had a kill with Caron adding an assist. Khloeigh Shafer added an assist and Carly Dreher came off the bench and made eight straight serves including an ace.
The B-team fell in a close five-set match 17-25, 12-25, 25-21, 25-23 and 8-15.
Dreher was a highlight, especially from the serving line. She had 11 aces including a period of seven serves in a row in the fourth set. An ace from Dreher gave Iola the set win in a very close set four.
(Dreher) is a very consistent server, which is so important in close sets, Carlin said. When Carly is back there serving, you just know it is going to be over and in.
Dreher also had a kill.
Abigail Hirt and Emma McCormack each had four aces and Macie Hoag and Jadyn Kaufman had three aces. Elise Fleming and McCormack each had a kill. Madison Robertson added two assists.
Pony assistant coach Aubrey Westhoff was impressed with the play of both Kaufman and Fleming.
Jadyn was a leader on the floor, Westhoff said. She gave it her all on each play. If the ball is near her, it doesnt hit the floor. Jadyn does a great job encouraging her teammates.
