Baxter volleyball drops first two matches of new season

BELLE PLAINE — Karlee Koehler dished out 16 assists, Abbie Meyer finished with 17 digs and Adison Bonney put down 10 kills, but the Baxter volleyball team lost twice during its season openers on Tuesday.

The Bolts fell in straight sets to Highland 25-19, 25-15 and lost in two sets to host Belle Plaine 25-12, 25-20.

In the loss to Belle Plaine, the Bolts were led by Koehler’s eight assists, Meyer’s nine digs and Bonney’s six kills.

Alyvia Burdess also dished out six assists, Caydence Sulzle tallied seven digs, Denver Sulzle put down four kills and Kendall Brummel had two kills. It was the varsity debuts for both Denver Sulzle and Brummel.

Baxter was 29-of-33 in serves with four aces and it had a kill efficiency of .324.

Allison Hoover led Belle Plaine (2-0) with 12 assists, four digs and six aces and Kayleah Laughlin tallied five kills, four digs and six aces. The Lady Plainsmen had a 16-4 advantage in aces.

In the loss to Highland, Meyer led the Bolts (0-2) with five kills and eight digs. Koehler tallied eight assists, Caydence Sulzle chipped in 11 digs and Bonney put down four kills.

Burdess dished out two assists and collected four digs, Brummel tallied three digs and Danika Flora had two digs. The Bolts were 26-of-35 in serves.

Highland (2-2) was led by Ava Sexton’s four kills, Laney Skelton’s nine assists and Lilly Barre’s seven digs.