MARENGO – Montezuma and Iowa Valley were locked in combat, both sides firing, both hoping the other would blink.
One finally did.
The Tigers prevailed, 3-1 in sets. Scores were 25-22, 17-25, 25-22 . . .and then 25-14.
This test of wills was played Thursday evening, Oct. 3. The results left both teams with 11-13 records . . .and temporarily exhausted.
Iowa Valley traditionally is tough to score against and Montezuma has become that way.
Both sides launched attack after attack, just over 150 per side, which is a lot in a four-game match.
The kill numbers were similar. So were serving percentages, assists and blocks.
But there was a difference in digs – Iowa Valley had almost 30 more – and that could have made the difference. The Tigers got to serve 15 more times.
Ashlyn Krousie had 15 kills for Montezuma and Waverly Roorda had 10.
But Iowa Valley’s Taylor Smith, a 5-9 senior, had 21 kills – on a big total of 77 attack attempts.
The Bravettes served at a .927 rate (76-for-82) with eight aces. But the Tigers were at .938 (91-for-97), also eight eight aces.
Iowa Valley sophomore Abby Waddell was 24-for-26, with five ace serves.
Roorda had 23 assists in the match and Katie Reynolds had 12.
Maddy McKeag led Montezuma in digs with 12 and Krousie had 10.
The Bravettes remained aggressive on both sides of the net. Holland led Montezuma in blocks with five and Shanae Wetering had three.
UP NEXT – The Bravettes will refresh and reboot before facing Sigourney at home Monday evening, Oct. 7. Montezuma’s three seniors, McKeag, Roorda and Shelby Conger, will be honored before the match, which will be the Bravettes’ final one at home during the regular season.
Bravette stats
Kills – Ashlyn Krousie 15, Waverly Roorda 10, Shanae Wetering 5, Dylan Holland 5, Shelby Conger 2, Korinn Kehoe 2.
Assists – Roorda 23, Katie Reynolds 12, Conger 1, Holland 1, Maddy McKeag 1.
Digs – McKeag 12, Krousie 10, Conger 8, Reynolds 4, Kehoe 3, Holland 2, Roorda 2, Kierstyn Price 1.
Blocks – Holland 5, Wetering 3, Kehoe 1, Krousie 1, Roorda 1.
Serves – Roorda 17-18 with four aces, Kehoe 15-15 with one ace; Krousie 14-15 with three aces; Conger 11-11; Holland 10-12; Reynolds 9-11.
