May 15, 2024

Newton volleyball rallies, falls in five to Gilbert

Cardinals can’t overcome slow start in road loss to Tigers

By Troy Hyde
Chloe Swank

Newton junior Chloe Swank registered 23 digs in the Cardinals' five-set loss to Gilbert on Thursday. (Troy Banning/Gilbert Schools)

GILBERT — Kadance Ahn set a new career-best for kills, Macy Lampe and Delaney Woollums joined her with double-doubles and the Newton volleyball team missed just two serves in nearly 100 attempts during a non-conference match with Gilbert on Thursday.

The Cardinals rallied from an 0-2 hole and jumped out to a big lead in the final set, but the Tigers escaped with a 25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 22-25, 15-13 home win.

“It was another tough match that we let slip away,” Newton head volleyball coach Heidi Woollums said. “We started off slow and made too many unforced errors that equaled lots of free points from Gilbert.”

Chloe Rorabaugh Delaney Woollums

Newton senior Chloe Rorabaugh (2) and junior Delaney Woollums converge at the net against Gilbert on Thursday. Rorabaugh and Woollums combined for 22 kills in the five-set loss. (Troy Banning/Gilbert Schools)

After edging Newton in the first set, Gilbert controlled the second frame to go up 2-0 in the match.

The Cardinals scored the first four points in the third, but Gilbert drew even at 8-all. A pair of kills from Delaney Woollums put the visitors in front 11-9, but a 3-0 run pushed Gilbert to the lead.

That’s when Newton took over. They led 18-17 and 19-18 before going up 21-19 on a kill from Ahn. She also blasted home the final point of the set to extend the match.

Ahn finished with a career-high 29 kills and added 17 digs, three assists and two blocks. Her kill efficiency was .211.

Newton rallied from an early hole in the fourth. Gilbert led 10-5 and 11-6 before Newton recovered to draw even at 12- and 13-all.

A 3-0 run catapulted the Cardinals into the lead for good and they finished off the Tigers several points later.

Kadance Ahn

Newton senior Kadance Ahn posted a double-double with a career-high 29 kills during the five-set loss to Gilbert on Thursday. The Cardinals couldn't overcome a slow start on the road. (Troy Banning/Gilbert Schools)

Chloe Rorabaugh came through down the stretch with a kill and a block and finished the night with six kills, two blocks and two digs.

“They fought back hard and played well for 3/4 of the match,” Coach Woollums said.

A pair of kills by Ahn and an ace by Hailey Sumpter helped the Cardinals push out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth. Rorabaugh then put down three kills in the next four points to extend the lead to 8-2, but Gilbert rallied with six straight to tie it.

Newton scored the next three to go up 11-8, but the two teams were even at 11- and 12-all. Gilbert scored three of the next four points though to end the match.

Lampe finished with 32 assists and 11 digs, Delaney Woollums tallied 16 kills and 11 digs and her kill efficiency was .194 and Chloe Swank collected 23 digs and two aces.

Macy Lampe

Newton junior Macy Lampe registered 32 assists and 12 digs on Thursday during the Cardinals' five-set loss to Gilbert. (Troy Banning/Gilbert Schools)

Addison Hook dished out 17 assists and had four digs, Haylie Ryan posted 13 digs, Addison White chipped in 11 digs and Sumpter registered seven digs, two kills and two blocks. Gracie Clayton finished with three kills and four digs.

“Addie Hook stepped in and played fantastic and others contributed offensively as well,” Coach Woollums said. “We need that kind of play out of Chloe Rorabaugh, Gracie and Sump. They need to get their kills when they have their opportunities.”

The Cardinals were 96-of-98 in serves with five aces. Sumpter served 19-of-19, Delaney Woollums was 18-of-18, Swank finished 15-of-15 and Lampe was 12-of-12. White connected on 14-of-15 serves and Ahn was 11-of-12.