Diagonal takes second sweep from O-M

Back on Sept. 7, the Orient-Macksburg volleyball team was rarely in contention all night in a 25-16, 25-22, 25-11 defeat at Diagonal in a Bluegrass Conference match.

Progress was shown in Monday’s return match that did not count in the conference standings. The Bulldogs held late leads in two of the three sets before going down in another sweep, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21.

As Diagonal coach Allison Hajek saw her team improve to 5-6 for the season, she observed improvement on both ends of the court.

“O-M has definitely improved,” Hajek said. “I think both teams have improved throughout the year. We have enough experience that our girls know how to pull themselves out of that funk when they get behind. They know what they have to do.”

The Bulldogs, in falling to 2-9, did not show that finishing skill Monday night. After falling behind 14-9 in the opening set, the Bulldogs roared back into the lead. Senior Ashlyn Kralik went on a five-point service string, including an ace to put the Bulldogs in front, 23-19.

Emily Newton hit one of her six kills to end O-M’s run, and Erin Sobotka served out the run to Diagonal’s 25-23 victory.

“Erin is one of our steadiest servers, and she led us in digs tonight with 10,” Hajek said.

Kayla Bentley, who ended the night with a match-high four aces, served Diagonal to an 8-1 lead in the second set. The final point was a hard kill to the middle of the floor by junior Bailey Taylor.

The spread reached 12-3 and 14-6 before Orient-Macksburg gradually crept back into contention. Jump server Kaela Eslinger notched three successive points, including an ace, to close it to 18-12. Then, Montana Holtry served an ace among two points to make it 19-14 before Diagonal settled in for the 25-18 win.

Set three was all Orient-Macksburg early. Brooklyn Sammons, Eslinger and Holtry all served effectively to keep Diagonal on the defensive in building a 11-4 lead. All three Bulldogs smacked aces during the run.

Then the familiar problems cropped up in the name of net serves and hitting errors. Before long, Diagonal was in front, 19-18, on the way to the clinching 25-21 victory.

“We notice a shift,” O-M assistant coach Teresa Thompson said. “We came out in that third game ready to go, hitting it hard and serving well. Then we get up and start to think, OK, let’s not let them score. Early on we are on the attack, then we are just in a mode where we don’t want to let them score, letting them get on the offensive.”

“Diagonal does a good job of keeping the ball in play, and we weren’t doing as well with that,” O-M head coach Katie Geidel said.

Holtry was perfect in 16 serving attempts for the Bulldogs, with three aces. Kralik served two aces while going 11-13. Geidel said sophomore Ali Neisemier and freshman Haylee Meyer played steady as young varsity players Monday.

Tonight both teams are at home. O-M hosts Murray. Diagonal is hosting its Dig Pink cancer awareness night in action against Mormon Trail. Fans are asked to wear pink, and proceeds from a $5 pork loin dinner beginning at 5 p.m. going toward gift bags prepared for chemotherapy patients at Greater Regional Medical Center.

Serving (aces) — O-M: Montana Holtry 16-16 (3), Ashlyn Kralik 11-13 (2). D: Kayla Bentley (4).

Setting assists — D: Cassie Lohmann 12.

Kills — D: Emily Newton 6, Katie Sobotka 6, Bailey Taylor 5.

Digs — D: Erin Sobotka 10, Lohmann 8, K. Sobotka 8.

Blocks — D: Taylor 1.