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RED OAK – A rotational adjustmemt gave Creston volleyball some optimism to carry into Wednesday’s Class 3A Region 2 matchup with Red Oak as the Panthers dropped their unofficial tune-up match against the Tigers Monday 25-14, 25-17, 30-28.
Creston dropped the first set in unimpressive fashion leading to the rotation switch from the Panthers 5-1 to a 6-2.
That change put setter Rylie Driskell on the floor alongside setter Bree Ross.
Driskell ended the contest with 15 assists while Ross passed out 17.
Co-head coach Mallory Peterson said the change was something they thought might work against the Tigers, given Red Oak’s strengths and she expects it to be the new look for Wednesday.
“We wanted to try to have a couple different looks to choose form. Obviously it went pretty well so we’ll probably stick with it ... It took a little adjusting at first but then it went alright,” said Peterson adding that it’s not a common part of Creston’s practice routine.
The Panthers need to do a better job of tracking Red Oak’s Chloe Johnson and Sophia Walker who are the Tiger’s two leading attackers.
“We didn’t do a great job of tracking whereWalker and Johnson were at,” said Peterson. “
We have to know where they’re at. I’d rather miss a block somewhere else.”
Kelsey Fields put away 13 kills for the Panthers and Peterson noted that she was proud of the way the sophomore responded after a sluggish first set.
Taylor Buxton and Megan Haley had eight and seven kills, respectively, for Creston.
The third set will be the biggest building block for the Panthers after fighting off two set points at 24-22 and battling late in the set while trailing.
“We made a couple pushes down two with game point. We had some really good energy at the end so if we can find that on Wednesday ... that’ll be important,” said Peterson.
Creston ends the regular season with an 10-18 record following the loss and a 2-8 record in the Hawkeye 10.
Of note, St. Albert locked up its first Hawkeye 10 title with a 3-0 win over Denison-Schleswig Monday.
UP NEXT – Creston will head right back to Red Oak Wednesday for a 7 p.m. start time with its season on the line in the first round of Class 3A Region 2 aciton.
Shenandoah 3, Creston 0
Serving (aces) — Crest: MaKenna Hudson 12-12 (1), Emma Hanson 11-11, Taylor Buxton 10-11 (1), Megan Haley 9-11 (3), Bree Ross 7-8, Rylie Driskell 6-6 (1), Sam Dunphy 2-2.
Attacks (kills) — Crest: Kelsey Fields 21-26 (13), Hanson 18-19 (3), Buxton 16-17 (8), Haley 12-13 (7), Brianna Fields 8-11 (2), Dunphy 6-7 (1), Hudson 1-1.
Blocks (solo, assists) — Crest: Dunphy (2,0), Haley (2,0), K. Fields (1,0), Hanson (1.0).
Setting (assists) — Crest: Ross 17, Driskell 15.
Digs — Crest: Buxton 8, Hudson 8, Ross 3, K. Fields 2, Peyton Rice 2, Driskell 1, Dunphy 1, B. Fields 1,