BELLE PLAINE – Anybody just walking in during the third set between Belle Plaine and Montezuma would have thought two volleyball heavyweights were slugging it out.
And in fact, they were.
But the thing for the Bravettes was that a very strong Belle Plaine team had played extremely well in the first two sets (25-15 and 25-11 wins) and already had a 2-0 lead in this best-of-five match.
Belle Plaine got the third one, too, 25-20, despite fierce opposition, and now takes its 26-8 match record into Wednesday’s regional semifinal contest.
The Bravettes ended their season at 14-7. Three of those defeats were to Belle Plaine, but Montezuma can claim to be the only team in the South Iowa Cedar League to win even a set over Belle Plaine. In fact, they won two, in previous matches.
But for much of this night of volleyball, it was a quick-of-hand-and-foot Belle Plaine team keeping the ball in the air, flying back at the Bravettes at high rates of speed. Montezuma just didn’t get a lot of quality arm swings.
That led to free balls for the Plainsmen, and attacks and kills by 6-foot hitter Alyssa Tegeler and 5-9 Nicholaa Phillippe. Unofficially, Tegeler had 12 kills, Phillippe had nine and 5-10 Grace Bean had five.
For the Bravettes, Shanae Wetering, Ash Krousie and Dylan Holland had four each.
“We clearly didn’t play our best match of the years,” Bravettes Coach Tim Burgess said. “I would be lying if I said I knew why. I am proud of the girls’ preparation and focus heading into the match,” he said. “And I am proud of the growth they displayed as the season came to a close.”
Belle Plaine had 31 kills for the match, to 17 by Montezuma. Belle Plaine led 5-0 in blocks and 9-5 in ace serves, according to stats kept by KBOE Radio’s Joe Lancello.
The Bravettes had six service errors. Belle Plaine did have nine service errors, an indication, perhaps, that the Plainsmen had something extra on their service attempts.
Montezuma made a run at Belle Plaine in the third set, which was the one they won in their two previous matches against the Plainsmen.
Montezuma led 11-8 after an ace serve by Korrinn Kehoe. An ace by Katie Reynolds put the Bravettes up 15-13. Belle Plaine rallied to lead 17-16, but a kill by Montezuma senior Lauren Klos tied it at 17-17.
The last tie was at 19-19, before Belle Plaine went on a 6-1 run to close it out.
Montezuma’s attack efficiency percentage was just .072, probably the lowest of the season. Belle Plaine was at .376 which for a team is very strong. A reflection of that came in digs. Belle Plaine had 45, while the Bravettes had 18.
These two teams figure to be good next season, too. Each has just three seniors.
BRAVETTE NOTES – Montezuma jumped out to a 1-0 lead in all three sets. In fact, the Bravettes led 3-0 in the first, causing Belle Plaine to at least blink.
THANKS AGAIN, SENIORS – The match was the last one for the Bravettes for seniors Dylan Holland, Kierstyn Price and Lauren Klos.
Stats vs. Belle Plaine
Kills – Shanae Wetering 4, Dylan Holland 4, Ash Krousie 4, Korrinn Kehoe 3, Katie Reynolds 2, Lauren Klos 1.
Assists – Reynolds 12.
Blocks – None.
Digs – Krousie 5, Kehoe 4, Kierstyn Price 4, Wetering 2, Klos 1, Reynolds 1, Allyson Larmore 1.
Serves – Krousie 9-10 with one ace; Reynolds 8-9 with one ace; Larmore 8-8 with one ace; Kehoe 5-6 with one ace; Wetering 4-6, Holland 3-3, Price 3-4 with one ace.