March 29, 2024

Young Cardinals finish sixth in own tournament

Growing together as a team, Newton High’s Cardinals had an up-and-down day on the volleyball court at home in the 2014 NHS Cardinal Invitational Saturday. The Cardinals finished sixth in the eight-team event.

“We learned that we are capable of a lot. Today, we played against really good teams and held our own. We grew as a team,” said sophomore Megan Pressgrove, who led Newton with 35 kills at the net and 24 set assists.

Newton went 2-3 in is home tournament. Harlan, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, went undefeated in the event, defeating Class 2A fifth-ranked Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 25-16, 25-14 for its fourth consecutive Cardinal Invitational championship.

The Cardinals opened with a 21-15, 21-13 win over Des Moines North then lost to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 21-10, 21-15. Newton played Class 4A ninth-ranked Boone in its final pool match, losing 21-13, 21-11.

In the consolation bracket, Newton outlasted Carlisle in a three-set match, 25-23, 12-25, 15-12. The Cardinals and the Ottumwa Bulldogs battled point-for-point in the fifth-place match. The Bulldogs came out with a 25-22, 25-22 win over the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are 7-21 overall. They host Oskaloosa Tuesday in Little Hawkeye Conference play. It is Newton’s Dig Pink Night for breast cancer awareness.

Read more on the Newton run in the tournament in Monday’s Newton Daily News.