March 19, 2024

Cardinals fall to Indians in Little Hawkeye Conference

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Either team can score a point on each serve during a volleyball match. Serving and protecting the serve are as important as always in the sport.

A team serving can score points in big runs, but a team on defense can only score one point a time. Newton High’s Cardinals had trouble stringing offensive points together in Tuesday’s Little Hawkeye Conference match against visiting Indianola.

Indianola, which came out of the CIML-Central, won its inaugural LHC volleyball match, 25-17, 25-14, 25-20. Of Newton’s 51 points scored in the three-set match, only 20 came off serves and nine of those were in the opening set.

“We didn’t come out with the win, but there were a lot of great things we are able to take away from tonight. I am proud of the girls for the improvements they have made,” Newton head coach Ashley Carter said.

Newton led the Indians 4-3 on a three-point serving stint by Megan Pressgrove on net play by Rachel Berkland and Taylor Shipley in the first set. Indianola pushed out to an 18-13 lead before Ryanne Rausch served for three straight points for Newton.

It was the story of the match for the Cardinals — catch-up volleyball. Newton fell behind in each set then made a run to get within striking distance. The Cardinals could not get over the hump.

In the third set, Indianola held a 10-7 lead. Shipley served two consecutive points, but Newton wasn’t able to tie up the set. Shipley was at the service line again late in the set when the net work of Pressgrove helped score three points.

Newton was behind 23-20 and stalled again. Indianola (6-5, 1-0) served out the set and match with the next two points.

“The girls did a good job handling serves and had zero serving errors,” Carter said. “We need to work on staying disciplined and getting to our defensive positions, but I am confident we can develop that with some gym time. The girls are excited about the season and the potential that lay ahead.”

Pressgrove delivered 12 kills at the net for Newton and Shipley had seven kills. Pressgrove had one solo block and five block assists while Morgan Allen recorded four block assists.

Also at the net, Lucy Lilienthal had a solo block and two block assists. Audrey Lucas had two block assists, and Berkland had one block assist. Allen and Lilienthal each had one kill.

Shipley put up 13 set assists and Pressgrove had six set assists. Rausch was credited with 16 digs and Shipley had 11 digs. Carter Lee had five digs followed by Lucas with four digs.

Pressgrove and Shipley served up six points apiece, and Pressgrove had one service ace. Lucas had three service points and one ace serve. Rausch served for three points while Allen and Lee each served for one point.

Newton’s junior varsity lost to Indianola, 25-9, 25-7, Tuesday. In the freshman match, Indianola won 25-9, 25-13.

The Cardinal varsity is 2-4 overall and 0-1 in Little Hawkeye Conference action. They host Dallas Center-Grimes Tuesday in LHC play. The freshman and junior varsity matches are at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity match is at 7:15 p.m.

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