The Iola Mustangs continue showing improvement after splitting Tuesday’s Prairie View triangular and picking up their first Pioneer League victory.
After weeks of near misses in their pursuit of their first league win, the Mustangs (5-16, 1-5) finally hit the mark against host team Prairie View — and nearly swept the triangular after taking Osawatomie to three sets.
“We could have had that last one against Osawatomie, but there’s no sense dwelling on that,” Iola coach Lauren Moots said. “We just need to regroup and get ready for Eureka and Fredonia on Thursday and we’ll come out a little more successful.”
In the opener against Prairie View, the Mustangs won a pair of 25-23 nailbiters for the sweep. Junior middle hitter Zoie Hesse continues to be a force for Iola while leading the Mustangs in kills, assists and blocks. On the night, Hesse notched 18 kills to complement 20 assists, 17 digs and 10 blocks. Freshman outside hitter Haidyn Desmarteau was second in kills with 14 and digs with 24; she had a team-leading six kills Tuesday.
“Zoie had a phenomenal night — not just setting. Her blocking and hitting were stellar,” Moots said. “She really showed up when we needed her. Haidyn and Dally Curry both ran the backcourt well and were tracking down balls Osawatomie and Prairie View thought were down. They carry a heavy oad for us as outside hitters.”
Curry was third in kills with 12, but she also had a team-leading 26 digs to complement her single block and an ace. Hesse, Desmarteau and Curry were far from the only Iola players succeeding on the court Tuesday night. Sophomore setter Addi Wacker had 15 digs, two kills and three aces. Freshman libero Kashyn Curry had 15 digs and an ace.
Freshman outside hitter Lily Jerome was Iola’s Swiss Army knife with five kills, three blocks, eight digs and two aces, while junior middle blocker Kinsey Helinek and freshman middle blocker Camryn Willie were each a force at the net with eight combined blocks.
Moots sees the Mustangs’ success not in individual efforts, but a team-first approach to each contest regardless of their situation.
“They’re lifting each other up all the time, and not just when we’re winning,” Moots said. “It’s the good, the bad and the ugly. They’re doing it not just when we’re winning. It’s all of the time.”
The Mustangs next turn their attention to Fredonia and Eureka for a Thursday triangular, then jump back into Pioneer League play with a home triangular against Anderson County and Santa Fe Trail on Tuesday.
“It’s a building process. The more they play, the more they see,” Moots said. “The more they pick up, it’s just going to make them better players. I’ve seen their growth from the beginning of the season until now. I’m hoping we can continue that.”
