Second-ranked Indians down Newton volleyball

INDIANOLA — The Newton volleyball team had an impressive kill efficiency and recorded six blocks, but Class 4A No. 2 Indianola was too much for the Cardinals during their Little Hawkeye Conference matchup on Tuesday.

“Overall, it was not a horrible night,” Newton head volleyball coach Heidi Woollums said. “They are a phenomenal team which pretty much swings hard in everything. I was happy with how we handled our side for the most part.”

Kadance Ahn was impressive against one of the top teams in 4A, but the Cardinals fell in three sets 25-15, 25-21, 25-13.

Ahn finished with 13 kills and eight digs and her kill efficiency was .611. Delaney Woollums added six kills and six digs with a kill efficiency of .200.

“Kadance played fantastic,” Coach Woollums said. “She really stepped up and put kills down when we needed them, no matter if she was in the front or back row.

“Delaney played solid for us. Nothing extra fancy, but she passed well, served well and placed the ball and used the block to get her kills.”

Macy Lampe delivered 18 assists and had two digs, Chloe Swank contributed seven digs, Addison White posted three digs and Gracie Clayton totaled two blocks.

Newton (9-8, 1-3 in the conference) was 46-of-52 in serves with one ace. Delaney Woollums served 11-of-11, White was 9-of-9 and Hailey Sumpter finished 10-of-11. The Cardinals had a kill efficiency of .250.

“In the second set, we started blocking and got them thinking about our block, which led to hitting errors on their side,” Coach Woollums said.

Aspen Nelsen and Makenzie Sloan contributed 11 and 10 kills, respectively, for Indianola and Tori Runyan added 32 assists and five kills. The Indians (21-2, 4-0) served up 11 aces and had a kill efficiency of .350.