March 28, 2024

Lynnville-Sully, Pella Christian drop regional quarterfinal matches

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Lynnville-Sully’s Hawks opened their Class 1A, Region 6 match Tuesday with a win in the first set, then host Belle Plaine reeled off three straight set wins to bring Lynnville-Sully’s volleyball season to an end. Belle Plaine won, 21-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-22.

Also finishing the 2013 season in a regional quarterfinal match was Pella Christian. The Eagles lost 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 to host Eddyville-Blakesburg in Class 2A, Region 4 action in Eddyville.

At Belle Plaine, the Hawks got the edge early with the first-set victory but Belle Plaine responds on its home court. Belle Plaine ties it up 1-1 then the two teams battle in two close sets, going to Belle Plaine.

Lynnville-Sully finishes at 10-15 for the season.

“This team fought hard until the end.  We had to really adjust things in our defense to try to stop Belle Plaine’s Kameo Pope,” said Heather James, Hawks’ head coach. “The team adjusted so well, took charge on the floor and communicated the best we have seen them.  So proud of how they played!  It was tough to lose, but so glad we fought for the win.”

Senior Cassie Cullen pounds down 21 kills in the four-set match for the Hawks. She also was 16-of-16 serving with one ace. Junior Lysandra James had eight kills and a solo block.

Jade Van Rees, senior setter, was credited with 29 set assists. She had two kills. Junior Taylor Vander Leest had three kills, one block assist and one ace serve.

Senior Macy Lanser served up seven aces, going 19-of-21 from the service line. Kristal Beyer, another senior, was 16-of-17 serving with three aces. Lanser and sophomore Kristen Van Der Wilt each had one kill.

Vander Leest came up with 18 digs and senior Lyndsay Terpstra had 10 digs. Lanser and Cullen each had eight digs, while Beyer had seven digs, Van Rees had five digs, Van Der Wilt had three digs and James made two digs.

Pella Christian came up short against the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont’s Rockets. The Eagles concluded a 19-16 season.

“We had a great battle against a very good Eddyville team,” said Cindy Nikkel, Eagles’ head coach. “This is a team that any coach would be proud to work with — a true class act. We had strong leadership on this team.”

Senior Logan De Graaf and junior Hannah Beltman led the way at the net for the Eagles with six kills apiece. Beltman had four block assists. De Graaf and juniors Laura Nicholson and Christa Veenstra each had a block assist.

Lauren Jungling, senior setter, and junior Becca Gritters each delivered five kills. Gritters made a solo block and had a block assist. Jungling had two block assists, plus was credited with 12 set assists.

Defensively, De Graaf came up with 15 digs and Jungling had 13 digs. Junior Abby Pleima had 10 digs, while junior Alyssa Starkey made nine digs. At the service line, Jungling was 13-of-14 and Starkey went 12-of-12.