September 09, 2024

Baxter volleyball loses postseason opener to HLV

Bolts can’t overcome slow start in regional loss to Warriors

By Troy Hyde

Baxter senior Mandee Selover keeps the ball alive during a three-set loss to HLV on Oct. 17. The Bolts capped their season at 8-17. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

BAXTER — Baxter’s volleyball team missed five serves in the opening set of its Class 1A Region 4 opener against HLV on Oct. 17.

The Bolts lost the set by seven points and the Warriors carried their momentum into the final two frames and eliminated Baxter 25-18, 25-15, 25-12.

“In the first set, we missed five serves and lost 25-18,” Baxter head volleyball coach Jordynn Wesselink said. “You take those five misses away and we are right in it.

“I just think if we could get that first set back, things might have gone differently.”

The Bolts fell behind in the opening set 3-0 and 10-3. They rallied though and got within 15-14 on kills by Mandee Selover and Abbie Meyer, a tip kill by Bailey Littell and back-to-back aces by Julie Damman.

Baxter sophomore Adison Bonney gets her hands on an HLV attempt at the net on Oct. 17 during the Bolts' three-set loss to the Warriors. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

A service error gave HLV another point and the Warriors pulled away for good with a 4-0 run that made it 23-17. Selover got the Bolts (8-17) within five, but the Warriors closed it out two points later.

“They were finding the holes and hitting through our blocks,” Wesselink said. “I adjusted the defense several times to counter them and they countered right back. It was constant back and forth of me switching our defense. We just couldn’t catch a break.”

Baxter started stronger in the second set as back-to-back kills by Meyer put the home team up 4-3. The Warriors, though, countered with a 6-0 run and never trailed again.

The closest the Bolts got was 14-11, but another 5-0 run by HLV (17-17) forced a timeout from Wesselink.

The two teams played almost even the rest of the way, but it was not enough for Baxter.

“The serve receive is how they got us the most,” Wesselink said. “We were hitting and trying really hard, but they just kept hitting it right back at us.”

Baxter senior Lilyan Headlee passes the ball to a teammate on Oct. 17 during the Bolts' three-set regional loss to HLV. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The only lead the Bolts had in the third set was 1-0 on a Meyer kill. HLV went on top 3-1 and pushed its advantage to 7-3, 11-4 and 14-7.

Meyer got a pair of kills later in the set, but the Warriors never trailed by fewer than seven the rest of the way.

“I told them to read the shoulders and identify where you think the ball is going,” Wesselink said. “And if you think it goes one way and it goes the other, then so be it. That’s just the way the game goes.”

Official statistics for Baxter were unavailable at press time. HLV was led by Shaylee Cooling’s 20 assists and six digs.

Mckenzie Kempf and Janessa Blomme each put down 11 kills and Kyla Roberts registered 13 digs.

Wesselink began the season as the co-head coach at her alma mater but has since moved solely into the captain’s seat. She accepted the position this past June.

Having a full offseason with her squad is something she’s looking forward to.

Baxter junior Julie Damman sets up a teammate in the second set of the Bolts' regional postseason loss to HLV on Oct. 17. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

“Physically, we have to get better in hitting and with our serve receive,” Wesselink said. “That’s what we need to be better with next season.

“Mentally, it’s focus. We need to identify our strengths and focus on our weaknesses.”

HLV lost in straight sets to Waterloo Christian in the next round, and 1A No. 2 North Tama swept Waterloo Christian in the regional semifinals on Oct. 24.