COLUMBUS — Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker in A-team competition Tuesday.
The IMS eighth-grade B-team claimed a hard-fought win in three sets. The Ponies beat host Columbus 17-25, 25-17, 15-13.
Joie Whitney served five aces and had two kills at the net. Caitlin Dreher had four service aces and a set assist. Cassie Delich served three aces and had a kill.
Bobbi Sinclair served up three aces. Blaze Hobbs had one ace serve. Valaree Burtnett had a kill.
“It is always great to come back and win two sets after losing the first,” said Terri Carlin, IMS eighth-grade coach. “Joie and Cassie were super leaders on the court with their scrappy play. Caitlin stepped up and served well as Bobbi and Abigail Taylor did a good job passing the ball.”
The A-team match was just as close. Iola lost 28-26, 25-23, 15-5.
“The highlight tap would have looked great for us tonight,” Carlin said. “We had some really outstanding plays but it was the little things that cost us.”
Carlin said the Ponies missed key serves and couldn’t get a pass at crucial times. She said the girls set up the ball well and scored lots of points off that.
Taylor Sell downed 10 kills and served one ace. Emily McKarnin served up six aces. McKayli Cleaver had four kills and Delich had one kill.
Ashlie Shields was credited with eight set assists and two kills. Elise Wolf had three ace serves and three assists. Mikaela Platt had two aces and one kill and Taylor Heslop served two aces.
IMS volleyball team splits
