April 25, 2024

Cardinal volleyball is winless in tournament

By Jocelyn Sheets

Playing on the back row, Newton’s Carter Lee makes a pass during a home match. The Cardinals were 0-4 in competition at Thursday’s Des Moines Chrisitian Invitational in Urbandale. They are home Tuesday against Oskaloosa in Little Hawkeye Conference play. (Jocelyn Sheets)

URBANDALE — Things did not go well for Newton High’s volleyball team at Thursday’s Des Moines Christian Invitational. They lost four matches and their top net attacker — senior Megan Pressgrove — went down after the first match.

“We had to get creative with our line-up. Megan will be back on Tuesday,” Newton head coach Ashley Carter said. “There were some high points, but the girls struggled to adjust to the changes.”

Newton dropped a 21-19, 21-15 decision to host Des Moines Christian to open the tournament. Pressgrove had six kills, eight set assists, two digs and one block assist in the match before an injury sidelined her the rest of the night.

Van Meter defeated the Cardinals, 21-10, 21-7, then Mount Ayr beat Newton, 21-10, 21-15. In a rematch of the Little Hawkeye Conference match of Tuesday, Grinnell beat Newton, 21-16, 21-10. Newton defeated Grinnell in LHC contest.

“You either win or you learn, and Thursday night we learned. It was a great lesson in overcoming adversity and rising to an occasion. Our focus is improvement and getting ready for Oskaloosa Tuesday,” Carter said.

Senior Taylor Shipley delivered 18 kills for the four matches for the Cardinals. She also had 13 set assists and 20 digs. Junior Audrey Lucas put up 12 set assists along with downing six kills, making 11 digs and serving one ace.

Senior Ryanne Rausch was credited with 27 digs, four kills, one set assist and one serving ace. Morgan Allen, senior middle blocker, had one solo block and two assisted blocks at the net. Allen made three kills, had two digs and one serving ace.

Junior Lucy Lilienthal put down five kills and had a block assist. Junior Rachel Berkland had two kills, one block assist, two set assists and one dig. Junior Alexis Hoffman had one kills.

Juniors Harlie Durr and Carter Lee were credited with 15 digs and 14 digs, respectively,

Newton (4-10) hosts Oskaloosa in Little Hawkeye Conference play at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. The Cardinal varsity is 1-2 in LHC action. The junior varsity and freshman matches begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at NHS.

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