Early tourney helps Fillies

MOUND CITY — Second out of their pool but Iola High’s Fillies ended up fourth in the tournament. With two losses in the afternoon, the Fillies finished the Jayhawk-Linn High Invitational at 2-3.
“Taking seven players to a tournament is a hard choice for the coach and definitely a challenge for the players for a full day of play,” said Jodi Grover, IHS head coach.
“Playing a tournament right at the start of the season exposes our strengths and weaknesses. It allows us to find solutions early on. Our seven players were able to build from mistakes throughout the day.”
Iola’s varsity opened the tournament in a rematch with Central Heights. The two teams met in last year’s Jayhawk championship match with the Lady Vikings winning.
Central Heights beat Iola 25-12, 25-7 in pool action. The Fillies bounced back, winning back-to-back three-game matches.
Iola defeated Riverton 27-25, 18-25, 25-23. Grover said the Fillies’ serve receive became much better throughout the day. The  Fillies turned away Turner 25-17 25-27, 25-22.
“During the Turner match, we had the confidence to run specialty plays with our hitters. Our passes had improved so the setters could get the ball to the hitters to execute a kill,” Grover said.
With other other pool running ahead of Iola’s pool, the Fillies had just 10 minutes from the Turner match to play Burlington, which won its pool, in the semifinals.
“The girls played hard but just a little behind every ball,” Grover said of Iola’s 25-13, 25-19 loss to Burlington.
Iola took on host Jayhawk-Linn in the third-place match, losing 25-13, 20-25, 25-18. Iola jumped ahead in the second game 16-8. Up 23-20, Toni Taylor served the final two points to give Iola the win.
“In the third game, which was close most of the way, We only earned five points on our own, executing our offense. The other points were from Jayhawk’s mistakes,” Grover said.
Kendra Taiclet pounded down 29 kills and Riana Dolenz had 25 kills to lead Iola’s net attack. Dolenz had 11 solo blocks and seven assisted blocks while Taiclet made four assisted blocks for the day.
Kelsey Larson was credited with 56 set assists and Taylor had 36 assists. Larson also had 14 kills, one solo block and six assisted blocks at the net.
Carly Mulsow had 10 digs and four kills, Kirstin McGuffin had eight kills, a solo block, two assisted blocks and six digs. Kelsey Adams put down five kills and had two assisted blocks.
Larson led at the service line with five aces. Taylor had three ace serves while Mulsow, McGuffin and Dolenz each had two ace serves.
“I’m proud of the girls for playing so hard all day. We just need to have better intensity from the start and sustain it throughout a match,” Grover said.
Iola (2-3) hosts Prairie View and Fort Scott at 5 p.m. Thursday.