Cardinals improve in LHC loss to Indians

Facing a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five volleyball match, Newton High’s Cardinals forced a fourth set against visiting Oskaloosa Tuesday. The Cardinals rallied to win their first set in Little Hawkeye Conference action this season but lost the match in four sets.

The Indians had pulled away late in the first set for a 25-18 win then notched a 25-13 victory in the second set. Newton took a lead early, 8-5, in the third set then battled with Oskaloosa to a 19-19 tie.

It appeared the Indians were going to ride the hot-serving of Jolie Yang to a straight set match win. Yang, who was 33-of-34 on the night, had four straight points to put the Indians up 23-20.

The Cardinals staved off the run and with sophomore Jerrica McGuire serving came back to 23-22. Sophomore Meg Callaghan had a solo block to score one of the points then had a tip at the net to ward off the match point.

Newton senior Brittney McConnell dialed up a service ace when the ball hit the top of the net and dropped over which tied the set at 24-all. She served the next to points to give Newton a 26-24 win.

Down 2-1, the Cardinals battled and led Oskaloosa 10-8 then Yang rattled off nine straight service points for the Indians. The Indians stayed in front and claimed a 25-18, 25-13, 24-26, 25-14 win over the Cardinals.

“The girls are improving. Every game gets a little better, We are moving in the right direction,” Newton head coach Ashley Carter said. “ Tess Brunsmann is executing her new role well.”

Carter has split the setting duties between sophomores Kate Callaghan and Tess Brunsmann in a new system on the court. Kate Callaghan was credited with 13 set assists and Brunsmann had 11 set assists.

Neither team had big serving runs in the first set. There were 25 sideouts in the set with Oskaloosa winning on a defensive point.

Yang and Riz Alesna started to pile up serving points in several runs in the second set. The Indians were 89-of-97 as a team from the serving line. Alesna went 19-of-20 with four service aces and Yang had three aces in the match.

Oskaloosa also got big nights at the net from Faith DeRonde and Ashley Drost. DeRonde piled up 19 kills and Drost had 10 kills.

“We had some great defensive moments from Madi Amos and Nykole Hernandez that really set us up in a good position to get some kills. Kate and Meg Callaghan led the charge at the net, piling up some important kills,” Carter said.

“Brittney was clutch behind the serve line with four aces, and Kam Arguello was 8-for-8 on her serves. Jerrica had a few great blocks.”

Kate Callaghan delivered 12 kills and Meg Callaghan downed 11 kills. Juniors Madi Amos and Kamryn Arguello had six kills and four kills, respectively. McGuire made two solo blocks.

Leading the team in digs was sophomore Nicole Hernandez with 14 and Amos with 10. Kate Callaghan came up with nine digs and Arguello had eight digs. McConnell had seven digs while McGuire and Brunsmann each had two digs.

McConnell served for eight points with four aces and McGuire had seven service points and one ace. Amos had six service points and two aces. Meg Callaghan had five service points, Arguello had two service points and Kate Callaghan had one point.

“The girls are ready to work tomorrow to clean up our defense and some of those unforced errors.” Carter said.

Newton dropped to 0-3 in LHC play and 3-5 overall. The Cardinals will play in the Des Moines Christian tournament starting at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in Urbandale.

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