Cardinal freshmen learn in opening losses

Playing their first high school volleyball matches, Newton High’s freshmen opened the 2015 season at home Thursday in the NHS 9th Grade Volleyball Tournament.

Newton dropped decisions to Des Moines Roosevelt, Ankeny Centennial, Ankeny and Dowling to begin the season.

“We had a hard fight against some tough schools but it was a big learning step for the girls,” Freshman coach Michaela Wood said. “In the past few weeks, we have learned a lot about the game, and I think they were able to watch some games and learn from watching as well.

“We had some good things happen, and we will only be able to build from here. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the volleyball team.”

The Cardinals began their high school career facing Des Moines Roosevelt, losing 21-13, 21-19. They gave up a five-point run at the service line to the Roughriders to allow Roosevelt to gain a 13-4 lead in the first set.

Newton came back from a four-point deficit to make it a one-point contest, 8-7, in the second set with the Roughriders. Roosevelt bolted back out to an 18-13 lead. Newton regained the service and Tegan Simmons served up four consecutive points.

Roosevelt stopped the Cardinal run and scored the final two points to win the match.

They battled back from a 6-2 deficit in the first set against Ankeny Centennial in the second match of the night to tie the set up at 7-7. It was 10-10 when the Jaguars had a seven-point service run to put them on the road to victory. Ankeny Centennial controlled the second set to post a 21-12, 21-9 win over Newton.

Newton lost 21-9, 21-4 to Ankeny in the third match of the night. The Cardinals finished the tournament dropping a 21-8, 21-9 decision to Dowling.