MARENGO – The volleyball Bravettes took to the court in Marengo and stepped right into . . .a match!
Iowa Valley had won just twice in 13 tries coming in, but some of those losses were to good teams in tournaments.
The Tigers came to play. The teams locked in to nip-and-tuck first set, with Iowa Valley coming out on top, 28-26.
The intensity carried over into the second set, but this time Montezuma prevailed, also by a 28-26 score.
The Bravettes got control after that, winning the match 3-1 after wins of 25-16 in the third set and 25-15 in the fourth. The match was played Thursday evening, Oct. 1.
“We are very proud of how these girls responded after losing the first set,” Montezuma’s coaches said in a statement. “It’s tough coming back and winning the next three, especially with the first two as back-to-back overtime sets,” the coaches said. “However, these ladies played hard and competed all night long.”
It was the sixth straight match victory for Montezuma, which took its record to 8-4 overall and remained unbeaten in South Iowa Cedar League play.
The difference in the third and fourth sets came at the net. Montezuma maintained or stepped up its intensity.
Each side attempted 115 attacks in the match. The Bravettes finished with 45 kills, to 21 by Iowa Valley.
Montezuma also had 10 blocks, five of them by Dylan Holland, to just three by Iowa Valley.
Iowa Valley did fire 14 ace serves, to five by the Bravettes. But Montezuma was accurate on its serve attempts and was able to pass the ball forward for attacks.
Ash Krousie had a match-high 19 kills for Montezuma. Korrinn Kehoe had 13 and Holland had eight.
Katie Reynolds had 38 assists for Montezuma.
“This time of the year, you have to be in shape, because you will play a lot of four- and five-set matches,” the coaches’ statement said. “These ladies are working hard in practice and their improved conditioning is showing.”
The Bravettes spread out their digging in this match. Kierstyn Price led with 10, with Reynolds and Shanae Wetering at nine each, Allyson Larmore at eight, and Krousie with seven among the leaders.
Five Bravettes reached double figures in successful serve attempts.
Iowa Valley tested Montezuma’s perseverance with a strong effort, and it would be safe to say the Bravettes passed the test.
“Iowa Valley is a good team that has played some tough competition early this year,” Montezuma’s coaches said. “Their record isn’t indicative of their talent.”
Montezuma plays its final regular season home match on Monday against 5-10 Sigourney, then takes on 12th-ranked Belle Plaine (12-5) up there on Thursday.
Montezuma won 2-0 in both the frosh-soph and JV matches.
Stats vs. Iowa Valley
Kills – Ash Krousie 19, Korrinn Kehoe 13, Dylan Holland 8, Shanae Wetering 4, Katie Reynolds 1.
Assists – Reynolds 38, Kehoe 1, Holland 1.
Blocks – Holland 5.0, Krousie 2.0, Reynolds 2.0, Kehoe 1.0.
Digs – Kierstyn Price 10, Reynolds 9, Wetering 9, Allyson Larmore 8, Krousie 7, Kehoe 5, Holland 3, Lauren Klos 1.
Serves – Reynolds 16-17 with one ace; Krousie 15-17, Wetering 14-17, Larmore 13-16 with two aces; Kehoe 12-16 with one ace; Price 8-9 with one ace; Holland 6-6.