Newton volleyball downs Algona at ADM quad

ADEL — Newton’s volleyball team is 2-0 in matches that have gone the distance this season.

The Cardinals were in another three-set match at the ADM quadrangular on Thursday and once again came out on top during a win over Algona.

It was the only victory of the night for the Cardinals as they also lost in straight sets to ADM and Harlan.

“Tonight, our lack of varsity experience came through,” Newton volleyball coach Heidi Woollums said. “For example, Harlan is a good team, but to come out and get beat 21-3 and then play them competitively … I tend to believe that’s nerves and mixed with a pressure situation.

“That’s hard to simulate in practice. It’s one of those things they have to go through and learn from.”

Newton defeated Algona 23-21, 18-21, 15-9 to improve to 4-0 on the season. The losses to the Tigers and Cyclones dropped the Cardinals to 4-2.

ADM downed Newton 21-18, 21-13 and Harlan was a 21-3, 21-18 winner over the Cardinals.

Against Algona (0-3), Kadance Ahn tallied 13 kills and eight digs, Macy Lampe had 18 assists and two digs and Chloe Swank finished with nine digs.

Audrey Rausch had five digs, Emily Wermager tallied three digs and Hailey Sumpter put down two kills.

The Cardinals were 52-of-55 in serves with Lampe and Rausch both going 10-of-10 and Wermager was 9-of-9. Swank finished 10-of-11.

“On a positive note, we once again came out on top when the match went three sets,” Woollums said. “That’s not an easy thing to do for many teams and so far this group is 2-for-2 in that situation.”

In the loss to ADM (2-1), Ahn put down four kills and had six digs, Lampe finished with 10 assists and two digs and Sumpter tallied three blocks. Kealey Manning also had two kills and Swank finished with four digs.

The Cardinals were 25-of-27 in serves with Lampe and Sumpter serving 6-of-6 and Wermager going 5-of-5.

Ahn collected six kills, five digs and three aces against Harlan (3-0). Lampe dished out six assists, Rausch finished with six digs and Swank added two digs.

The Cardinals were 20-of-22 in serves with Ahn going 7-of-7. Rausch served 4-of-4.

“We served well and did a pretty good job on serve receive,” Woollums said. “We will continue to improve on connecting at the net and defensively.”