TigerHawk VB can’t sustain runs
Huinker All-Tournament
TigerHawk VB can’t sustain runs
By Jerry Wadian
Sports Editor
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com
North Fayette Valley had an uncharacteristic week in volleyball losing three of four matches.
“Our confidence is really up and down,” stated head coach Bruce Ehler. “We know we have the talent, and we put little runs or sets together, but we just are not able to sustain it.”
NFV opened with a UIC loss, 3-0, at Turkey Valley on Thursday, Sept. 12. Saturday at the Kepros Tournament in Cresco, the TigerHawks lost the first two games, before pulling out a 21-18, 17-21, 15-7 match against host Crestwood, who was first in NFV’s pool.
At the Kepros tourney, Morgan Huinker earned All-Tournament honors with 25 kills and 14 digs. However, the TigerHawks only went 1-2.
In the first match against Waukon, NFV fell, 19-21, 21-10 and 10-15. “We played well in the first set and had our chances, but serving errors finished us,” Ehler explained. “We dominated the second set behind Hanna Moser’s strong serving. However, we couldn’t maintain the edge and dropped the third set.”
NFV changed the lineup in game two against Kee High.
“I went to a 6-2 so Moser could hit, but it didn’t seem to make a difference; we couldn’t get anything going,” Ehler stated.
In the final game against Crestwood, NFV pulled off the win.
“We just let everything go and just played the game,” noted Ehler.
Individual TigerHawk Results
Huinker, 25 kills, 14 digs; Koch, 13 kills, 2 blocks; Lehmann, 11 kills, 1 block; Moser, 6 kills, 55 assists, 4 digs, and 2 aces.
Thursday at TV, the TigerHawks were frustrated by a good Trojan squad, 19-25, 22-25, and 19-25.
According to Ehler, “We talk about intensity in practice and how you play like you practice, and that’s exactly what we did. The little mistakes we make in practice are coming back in games to bite us. Then we try even harder and make bigger mistakes.”
Hitting errors put NFV behind early on Thursday, but the TigerHawks caught up. Then serving errors killed the momentum, and TV went on to win. Huinker had three kills in the set with Shelby Lehmann and Bailey Moser adding a pair of kills apiece.
The TigerHawks jumped to a nice lead in game two, but seemed to relax as the Trojans rallied for a lead. With the score tied at 20-20, NFV committed a series of serving errors for the loss. Moser had 10 assists in the game.
TV opened fast in the final set before Rachael Coan’s strong serve put the TigerHawks back in the game. However, TV scored the final three points to walk off the court victorious.
Individual TigerHawk Results
Huinker, 15 kills, 14 digs; Koch, 6 kills, 4 blocks; Lehmann, 5 kills, 1 ½ blocks, 1 ace; Moser, 3 kills, 26 assists, 4 digs, 2 aces; Rounds, 7 digs.
After the week was over, Ehler stated, “We know we can do it and that we’re beating ourselves. Now it’s just a matter of practicing and performing to expectations and talent level.”