It was a 3-1 Montezuma victory, just like it was when the Bravettes played Lynnville-Sully on Sept. 17.
That one was tough, but this one, played at home Monday, Oct. 12, was tougher.
“We had to battle for it,” Bravettes Coach Tim Burgess said. “A typical rivalry game. Lynnville-Sully played well and made us earn everything tonight.”
Like last time, Montezuma won the first set; the Hawks took the second. Scores were 25-16 and 16-25 . . .then the Bravettes closed it out with a pair of 25-20 victories.
It was second round play in the South Iowa Cedar League tournament.
The win sends the Bravettes to Thursday’s semis, which start against HLV at 5 p.m. in Belle Plaine. The winner takes on the Colfax-Mingo Belle Plaine winner in the second match for the league championship.
“I didn’t think we played very clean or efficient tonight,” Burgess said. “However, after we watched film, the girls did some things I had asked them to do even better,” he said.
“I was very happy with our next play mentality.”
Like last time, the Bravettes kept attacking. Montezuma had 45 kills in the four-set match, including 20 by Ash Krousie. Dylan Holland had eight, and Korrinn Kehoe and Shanae Wetering had seven each.
Digs were balanced, too. Krousie led with nine, and Wetering and Katie Reynolds had eight each.
Reynolds, who had 41 assists, was 22-for-23 on serves, while Wetering was 19-for-23 with two aces.
“There were times I wanted to take a time-out, but I felt long term, ‘the team’ had to battle and grind its way through the situation,” Burgess said.
“I felt we were a bit nervous,” Montezuma’s coach said. “They want to play on Thursday. Sometimes you can want something bad enough that you don’t play relaxed and carefree.”
“Mistakes are going to happen,” Burgess said. “How we respond is critical to success.”
And, the Bravettes did finish with success.
“It’s all about winning and moving on,” the coach said. “It doesn’t always have to be pretty, but you have to get the job done. Now, they (the girls) get to compete and see where things play out on Thursday.”
The Bravettes moved to 10-5 overall for the season. Lynnville-Sully is 9-7.
MATCH TUESDAY – The Bravettes visit Tri-County on Tuesday for their final regular season match. All levels are scheduled to play, starting at 5:30 p.m.
BURGESS IS THE HEAD COACH – Burgess, who is Montezuma’s activities director, said he will serve as head volleyball coach the rest of the season, after Katie Dunlap resigned from that position.
Stats vs. Lynnille-Sully
Kills – Ash Krousie 20, Dylan Holland 8, Korrinn Kehoe 7, Shanae Wetering 7, Katie Reynolds 2, Allyson Larmore 1.
Assists – Reynolds 41, Wetering 1.
Blocks – Holland 5, Krousie 4, Kehoe 1, Reynolds 1.
Digs – Krousie 9, Wetering 8, Reynolds 8, Kehoe 4, Kierstyn Price 4, Larmore 3.
Serves – Reynolds 22-23, Wetering 19-23 with two aces; Krousie 14-16 with two aces; Price 8-8, Larmore 7-10 with two aces; Kehoe 4-5, Holland 4-5.
TOURNIES COMING UP:
Thursday, Oct. 15 – Finals of the SICL tournament in Belle Plaine. Montezuma plays HLV at 5 p.m., with the winner to face the winner of Colfax-Mingo vs. Belle Plaine after that.
Monday, Oct. 19 – Regional play begins, with Montezuma hosting the first two rounds. The Bravettes play Iowa Valley on Monday at 7 p.m. The winner will take on HLV/BGM winner Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.
