Cardinals fall in regional play

OSKALOOSA — Newton High’s regional volleyball match Monday was indicative of the season the Cardinals have had. Up and down.

They were right with host Oskaloosa, a team that they’ve lost to twice during the regular season. It was 4-4 in the first set, then the Indians began to steadily pull away. Oskaloosa rolled in the second set in which Newton lost the services of sophomore Megan Pressgrove to an injury.

Newton’s players did not allow the Indians to have a cakewalk into the quarterfinals of the Class 4A Region 4 tournament. The Cardinals pushed to an 11-5 lead on a five-point serving run by sophomore Ryanne Rausch.

With Rausch serving, junior Allison Ergenbright and sophomore Kaytlin Ahn did the damage at the net. The Cardinals held a 17-13 lead, but the Indians’ regained control. Brooke Caves served for eight straight points to put Oskaloosa on top, 22-18.

Rausch served up two more points, one on a kill by Ahn. That was it. The Indians served out the set and the match.

Oskaloosa downed Newton 25-14, 25-10, 25-21 to advance into the regional quarterfinals against Grinnell on Thursday. It concluded the Cardinals 2014 season at 7-29.

“There were ups and downs with this being a strong learning year,” said first-year head coach Laura Rowen.

“The girls made great strides. We can take all that has come out of this season, learn from it, and apply it to the future.”

Newton had one lone senior, Sydney Hemann, this year. In her final match for NHS, Hemann had three kills, four set assists and went 4-for-4 at the serving line.

Ahn, who returned the lineup on Monday, came off the bench to lead the Cardinals with eight kills. She also had eight digs. Rausch and sophomore Courtney Jacobsen each had two kills. Recording one kill each were Ergenbright, sophomore Morgan Allen and junior Stephanie Hoebelheinrich.

Pressgrove also had one kill before leaving the match. She had one solo block at the net and five set assists. Pressgrove went in the air to make a play on the ball at the net and came down in obvious pain.

Rowen said Pressgrove has been battling a lower back problem throughout the season.

Junior Fran Lucas, who is the Cardinals’ libero, came up with 10 digs. Sophomore Courtney Jacobsen had two digs while Allen, Ergenbright and Rausch each had one dig.

Hoebelheinrich had a solo block at the net. Allen and Rausch had a block assist apiece.

Rausch went 13-for-14 at the service line and had one ace serve. Lucas recorded an ace serve.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com.