C-M volleyball can’t hold early lead in home loss to English Valleys

COLFAX — The Colfax-Mingo volleyball team couldn’t hold an early advantage at home against English Valleys on Monday.

The Tigerhawks won the opening set and forced a fifth set with a narrow win in the fourth frame, but the Bears pulled out a 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 24-26, 15-8 victory in South Iowa Cedar League play.

Both teams served up eight aces in the contest. English Valleys (.062 to .007) had a slightly better kill efficiency though.

It was the Tigerhawks’ fourth straight loss. Colfax-Mingo is 8-4 against English Valleys since 2015, but the Bears have won four of the past five in the series.

Katelyn Steenhoek led Colfax-Mingo, which has dropped five of its last six matches. She finished with 10 assists, five kills, 12 digs and two aces.

Britney Keeney contributed four kills, five blocks and two digs, Isabelle Utz totaled six kills and 13 digs, Hope Allen finished with six assists and nine digs and Grace Allen tallied 21 digs.

Grace Hunsberger collected two kills, five digs and three aces, Dakota Allen put down five kills, Meadow Lane added 13 digs, Macie Porter had eight digs and Sydney Veasman secured seven digs.

Mickey Bucklin posted two blocks, and the Tigerhawks (7-7, 1-5 in the SICL) were 94-of-103 in serves with eight aces. Hope Allen served 17-of-17 and Grace Allen was 13-of-14.

Hadyn Bender led English Valleys (7-10, 1-5) with 34 assists and 20 digs and Joslyn Bender posted 16 kills and 21 digs. Ava Gehrking totaled 12 kills, 12 digs and three aces and Pantera Spies contributed 11 kills and 16 digs.

The Bears, who snapped a five-match skid, were 88-of-109 in serves with eight aces.