March 29, 2024

Panthers sweep Shenandoah

Key home match Thursday for H-10 top division finish

SHENANDOAH — Suddenly, this Creston volleyball team is in a position to finish among the top teams in the Hawkeye 10 Conference.

That seemed to be a longshot earlier this season, coming off the 2014 campaign when the Panthers tied Lewis Central for third place in the best Creston season in nearly 30 years.

Now, after all of Tuesday night’s matches, Creston is lodged in a fourth-place tie with St. Albert Catholic and Glenwood at 4-3, with Red Oak lurking right behind at 3-3.

With Lewis Central’s sweep of previous leader Kuemper Catholic Tuesday night, and Harlan’s victories over St. Albert and Glenwood, the Cyclones have moved in front at 7-1. Kuemper and Lewis Central are each 6-1 in league play.

“It really is a situation in our conference this year that whoever comes to play that night is going to win,” Creston coach Polly Luther said, after her team swept Shenandoah, 25-18, 25-10, 25-17.

Creston, now 12-6 overall, hosts Glenwood (14-8, 4-3) Thursday night.

“That is a big match for us in so many ways,” Luther said.

After Thursday, the final league matches for Creston are Oct. 13 at Harlan and Oct. 20 for senior night against Red Oak.

Shenandoah, hit hard by graduation from the 2014 season, was no match for the Panthers Tuesday night in falling to 6-18 for the season and 0-7 in the conference.

"We weren't spectacular by any means, but we did what we needed to do," Luther said. "I told the girls they have to start expecting to win, and then go out and play that way. For the most part that's what we did."

Jenna Taylor was thumping the ball hard at the net and was matched by fellow senior Sydney Dunphy with 11 kills each. Angie Sorensen added five. Luther said Megan Haley showed improved blocking in the middle and the team had some long service runs by setters Gracie Russell and Jaxie Luther, as well as defensive specialist Alyssa Higgins. Jami Sickels had a team-high eight digs and eight serve receptions.

“We mixed things up in our attack, and I was really happy to see us get some touches on some blocks,” Luther said. “Haley got quite a few touches. A lot of that is timing and reading the ball, which comes with experience.”

In other league play Tuesday, Denison-Schleswig swept Atlantic and Red Oak edged Clarinda 3-2, by dominating the fifth set, 15-5. Besides falling to Harlan, Glenwood was swept by St. Albert in the triangular hosted by the Saintes.

Creston statistics

Serving (aces) — Jaxie Luther 12-14 (2), Gracie Russell 8-9 (2), Alyssa Higgins 14-14, Alli Thomsen 8-10, Jami Sickels 5-5 (1), Sydney Dunphy 5-5.

Attacks (kills) — Dunphy 11, Taylor 11, Angie Sorensen 5, Cayla Maitlen 4, Breanna Wallace 2, Luther 1.

Blocks (solo-assists) — Megan Haley 1-1, Taylor 1-1.

Setting (assists) — Luther 18, Russell 9, Taylor 1.

Digs — Sickels 8, Higgins 4, Dunphy 4, Thomsen 2, Luther 1, Maitlen 1, Haley 1.

Serve receive — Sickels 8-12, Thomsen 5-6, Dunphy 2-2, Maitlen 2-2, Higgins 2-3, Luther 1-1.

Junior varsity

Creston JV swept Shenandoah Tuesday, 25-23, 25-12.

Makayla Davis and Steph Hemsworth each had three aces. Brielle Baker smacked nine kills. Breanna Wallace led the defense with nine digs.

“We didn’t start out great but I’m impressed with how we finished!” said Creston coach Jessie McClellan. “We’ve been talking a lot about playing our game the entire time. It’s still something we need to work on but we did better in the second game. I told the girls I was looking for a leader, someone who is always talking and doing what I ask without being reminded, and Bre Wallace is stepping up in that role.”

Freshmen

Shenandoah freshmen defeated Creston Tuesday 25-18, 15-25, 15-12. Creston won an extra set, 21-19.

Kesia Stewart and Devon Buls each served 11-12 for Creston and Breanna Ross was 7-9. Ross and Buls each had three kills.

“We struggled in the first game with passing and missed serves,” said Creston coach Mike McCabe. “We came back in game two and served very strongly and passed much better. In game three Shenandoah scored the last five points to win the decisive game.”