Newton places eighth at Cardinal Invitational

Watching Newton High’s Cardinals play volleyball, there’s no denying the Cardinals play hard and hang tough. It was a long day on their home court in Saturday’s Newton Cardinal Invitational. They did claim a set win in their final match of the event.

Newton went 0-5 in matches in their final home appearance of the season in the Cardinal Invitational. The Cardinals finished in eighth place, losing in the seventh-place match against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

Pella was second in Pool B to Harlan, but defeated Harlan 24-26, 25-23, 15-13 to defend its Cardinal Invitational championship. Harlan was second and had defeated Pella 21-18, 22-20 in pool play. Harlan defeated Boone 24-26, 25-21, 15-11 in championship semifinal action, and Pella got past Grand View Christian 25-22, 25-13.

It was a re-match for the Cardinals and Rockets, who met in pool play earlier in the tournament, for seventh place. The Rockets won the first match against the Cardinals, 21-13, 21-11.

Both teams ended up in the consolation pool and lost their first matches — Newton falling to Ottumwa 25-16, 25-18 and EBF dropping a 25-19, 25-21 decision to Carlisle. The Rockets got past the Cardinals for seventh place, 25-21, 21-25, 15-7.

Newton led the first set 12-6 and held on with a 17-15 advantage. EBF pushed ahead to 19-18 then outscored Newton 6-3 to take the set.

With senior Rachel Berkland serving six consecutive points, the Cardinals broke a 4-4 tie in the second set. Newton never gave up the lead to forge a 1-1 set tie and force a deciding third set with EBF.

The Rockets got up 3-1 then rattled off seven straight points to build a 10-2 lead. The Cardinals cut into it at 13-7, but got no closer.

Berkland had six points serving, which included three ace serves against EBF in the seventh-place match. Freshman setter Kate Callaghan served up five points — three aces. Sophomore Madi Amos had five serving points.

Senior libero Carter Lee served up three points. Senior Harlie Durr had two points on two ace serves and senior Audrey Lucas had two serving points.

At the net, Berkland and senior Madison Bleeker each delivered six kills and Callaghan had five kills. Senior Alexis Hoffman and Lucas had four kills apiece. Senior hitter Lucy Lilienthal injured her foot early in the match and did not return.

Bleeker put up one solo block and one assisted block. Lucas and Hoffman each had a solo block and Berkland had a block assist. Callaghan had 14 set assists and senior Addy Blom had one set assists.

Lee was credited with 16 digs and Durr had 10 digs. Berkland had 10 digs and Lucas had four digs. Amos, Blom, Bleeker and Callaghan each had two digs.

After going 0-3 in Pool A action, Newton faced Ottumwa in the consolation semifinals. Ottumwa claimed the win 25-16, 25-18. Carlisle downed EBF 25-19, 25-21. Carlisle claimed the fifth-place match over Ottumwa, 30-28, 25-12.

Against Ottumwa, Newton fell behind 21-8 in the first set and battled back to 22-14 on a six-point serving run by Callaghan. The Cardinals could never catch up to the Bulldogs. The second set was 7-7 when the Bulldogs rattled off seven consecutive points.

Lee served three straight points to bring the Cardinals to within two points, 17-15, Ottumwa held Newton off to take the match.

Callaghan had eight service points and one ace serve. Lee had three service points while Durr and Lucas each had two points serving. Lucas’ came on two ace serves.

Lucas rang up 11 digs followed by Lee with eight digs and Durr with seven digs. Bleeker and Callaghan each had two digs. Berkland had one dig.

Callaghan had 15 set assists and two kills. Leading the net attack was Hoffman with seven kills and one block assist. Lucas had five kills, and Lilienthal had three kills, one solo block and one block assist.

Bleeker had two kills and one block assist. Berkland had one kill and one block assist.

Newton opened Pool A play with a 22-20, 21-15 loss to Grand View Christian then lost to EBF 21-13, 21-11. Boone beat Newton 21-13, 21-12.

In pool play, Lee had 37 digs, which included 19 digs against Boone. Lucas had 17 digs followed by Durr with 16 digs, Kate Callaghan with nine digs, Berkland with nine digs, Hoffman with two digs, Amos with two digs and Allie Norvell and Kam Arguella with one dig apiece.

At the net, Hoffman had nine kills, two solo blocks and one block assist while Bleeker had six kills and three solo blocks coming against GVC. Lilienthal had three kills, one solo block and one block assist.

Lucas had six kills and two solo blocks in the three pool matches. Kate Callaghan had three kills and 19 set assists. Meg Callaghan had one kill. Kate Callaghan had five aces serves in a nine-point serving performance against EBF in pool play. Lucas had two ace serves and Berkland had one ace serve.

Newton is 3-20 overall. The Cardinals play their final Little Hawkeye Conference regular-season match on Tuesday. Newton takes an 0-7 LHC mark into its 7:15 p.m. match at Norwalk.

The Cardinals return to Norwalk on Oct. 12 for the Little Hawkeye Conference tournament.

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