March 29, 2024

Pella Christian volleyball plays in own tournament

PELLA — Following a 4-1 run in their own tournament Saturday, Pella Christian’s Eagles have evened their overall mark to 12-12. They were 2-11 a little over a week ago.

The Eagles went 2-1 in pool play to advance into the championship bracket of the Pella Christian Invitational Saturday. The Eagles were seeded fourth in the championship round.

Pella Christian finished the day with two three-set wins to claim a tie for second place in the tournament. They handed tournament champion, West Des Moines Valley High its only loss of the tournament.

Pella Christian opened pool play with a 21-14, 17-21, 15-11 win over Gilbert. Becca Gritters downed 11 kills to lead the Eagle net attack. Christa Veenstra made three blocks, and had three kills. Lauren Jungling delivered six kills and one block, while Hanna Beltman made four kills and two blocks.

Jungling put up 15 set assists, and Abby Pleima had seven assists. Alyssa Starkey led the team with 14 digs, passing at a 2.3 rate. De Graaf had seven digs and Pleima had six digs. Veenstra served up three aces.

The Eagles downed Knoxville 21-11, 21-14. Jungling served three aces, put down five kills, put up seven set assists and had 10 digs. Starkey had eight digs. Veenstra dealt out four kills.

Grandview Park Baptist handed a 28-26, 21-18 setback to Pella Christian in the final pool match. Gritters had nine kills and one block at the net for the Eagles. De Graaf delivered six kills, and had 10 digs. Beltman made four kills and two blocks. Jungling was credited with 15 set assists, and Starkey had 14 digs.

In the championship round, Pella Christian pulled out a 25-19, 20-25, 15-12 win over Valley. Starkey came up with 20 digs, while De Graaf had 14 digs. At the net, Veenstra and Gritter each had five kills, Beltman had four kills and one block, and De Graaf had three kills and two blocks. Jungling was credited with 14 set assists. Gritters served two aces.

The Eagles finished the day with a 25-22, 16-25, 16-14 win over Bondurant-Farrar. Jungling delivered 21 set assists, while De Graaf and Beltman pounded down eight kills each and Veenstra had seven kills and three blocks. De Graaf came up with 18 digs, Starkey had 17 digs, and Pleima made 13 digs