Iola Middle School’s seventh-graders ended 2021 with a bang.
Following a pair of hotly contested matches against Royster on Thursday, the Mustangs ended the season at the Pioneer League Tournament in Osawatomie with a pair of three-set victories
“The girls did such a good job playing as a team,” head coach Aubrey Westhoff said. “I’m so proud of them. We wish we had another week to watch them develop and mature more as a team. We had such a great season.”
The Royster matchup had Iola’s A team falling, 25-9 and 25-21.
Dally Curry led the way with six aces, followed by Sheridan Byrd with five, Brooklyn Holloway three and Zoie Hesse two. Hesse and Holloway both had three attacks.
“Dally and Sheridan did an amazing job of setting their teammates up,” Westhoff said. “The girls looked so good against the Rockets. It just came down to some little things.”
The B team started out like gangbusters, winning 25-21, before dropping the second 25-10. Royster edged Iola in the tiebreaker, 15-12.
Kaydance Frame, Annie House and Lacarea Eads led the way with five aces apiece. Maddie McDermeit and Zoe Warner both had four aces. Warner had one attack, set up by House.
“To start off the first set, the girls did a great job of following the ball to the end line and calling it out.” Westhoff said. “The girls had some amazing volleys as well.”
SATURDAY’S fun began with a 23-25, 25-23 and 15-7 win over Osawatomie.
Byrd had 10 aces. Kinsey Jelinek, Holloway and Curry had five aces apiece. Hesse and Abigail Jerome had three aces apiece. Kaydra Scheibmeir had two aces. Hesse, Holloway and Curry each had a pair of attacks. Byrd and Curry each had three assists.
The season ended with a nailbiter over Prairie View.
Iola won the first set, 25-23, dropped set 2, 25-18, and rebounded to win the third, 15-12.
Byrd led with nine aces, while Holloway had six, Curry five and Jelinek three. Hesse had two, Jerome two and Scheibmeir one.
Hesse, Holloway and Curry each had two attacks. Byrd and Curry also had three assists.
