Timberwolves get two

VILLISCA – Southwest Valley volleyball kicked off its season with two victories Thursday night, winning 2-1 over East Mills and 2-0 over Essex in a best of three series.

The Timberwolves opened the season a little sluggish, falling behind early in the first set to Class 1A No. 8 East Mills before eventually dropping it 25-11 in a set that was very out of character, according to head coach Lindsay Wetzel.

“Early on in set one, it was frustration,” said Wetzel. “They were frustrated and we just weren’t playing well ... They just weren’t excited, they were flat and weren’t communicating. I’m sure they were a little nervous because it’s the first game but we just didn’t do much right that first set.”

SWV snapped back into shape and was resurgent, playing point for point with an East Mills team that was equally as stingy when it came to allowing points.

The tide turned in favor of the T-Wolves with a Norah Lund kill that gave SWV a 3-point lead at 22-19.

Southwest Valley maintained the lead despite a push late in the set by East Mills, holding on for a 26-24 set win to tie it up a 1-1.

It took a little time to get back in motion and carry the energy into the third set as the Timberwolves jumped ahead and held the lead for a 15-13 set win to take the match 2-1.

A ranked East Mills team that finished 2018 with a record of 28-6 is a big win for Southwest Valley to kick off the season, and Wetzel knows it wasn’t a cheap one either.

“We knew Alex Knop, we knew we had to slow her down,” said Wetzel. “She’s a good hitter and we knew she could go around the blocks and we had to slow her down and get some touches on her. We knew they’d keep going after the ball. They’re not a team that lets things drop, they’re scrappy and go after stuff.”

Middle blocker Jentry Schafer finished the first match with nine kills, the team high. Kayley Myers was close behind her with seven.

Isabelle Inman finished with 16 assists and eight digs, the most on the team.

“We knew they were going to be tough,” said Wetzel. “I felt like we were similar and that we could beat them if we were playing well.”

A dominating win

Southwest Valley next hit the court against Essex, cruising to back-to-back set wins with ease.

The Timberwolves opened it up early while Essex struggled to communicate on the floor, pulling away in the first set to an 11-4 score.

A 13-2 run for SWV game the Timberwolves plenty of room for error at 24-9, eventually winning the set two serves later.

An 11-2 run in the second set led to Southwest Valley creating a sizable advantage at 20-8, but Essex rallied slightly to make it 23-12 before SWV scored the set winning points.

Wetzel expected the quality of play to carry over to the next match against Essex, who finished 3-26 the year prior.

“I expected our girls to continue the high level of play that we play, not to mess around and do stuff we normally do, keep running our high tempo offense and fine tuning it,” said Wetzel.

The Timberwolves’ head coach was able to get a good look at reserves later in the game while the differential was high, noting that she liked what she saw out of junior outside hitter Tonna Damewood and freshman Maggie Haer in their playing time.

With SWV playing two at sweltering hot Villisca middle school, about 20 minutes from the typical home gym, Wetzel said the heat and mugginess didn’t have any effect on how the girls performed.

“We’re used to heat. In the Corning Activities Center we don’t have air (conditioning) so they’re used to the heat,” said Wetzel. “We’re used to wet bodies and all the sweat, so I feel like we have an advantage in that because when teams come to us and play and they’re used to air conditioning, it can take a toll on the body. I think it keeps us in better shape too.”

UP NEXT – Southwest Valley will next hit the court in Leon against Pride of Iowa foe Central Decatur. Start time will be at 7:30 p.m.

Results

Southwest Valley 2, East Mills 1

Serving (aces) — Kayley Myers 11-11, Norah Lund 10-10, Delaney Dalton 8-8, Jentry Schafer 6-6, Larsen 6-6, Isabelle Inman 8-9 (1).

Attacks (kills) — Jentry Schafer 23 (6), Kayley Myers 22 (7), Norah Lund 9 (2), Delaney Dalton 8 (2), Isabelle Inman 3 (1), Olivia Jacobs 2 (0).

Blocks (solo-assists) — Schafer 3-3, Dalton 0-2, Inman 0-1.

Setting (assists) — Inman 16, Dalton 3.

Digs — Inman 8, Myers 5, Schafer 5, Lund 4, Jacobs 3.

Southwest Valley 2, Essex 0

Attacks (kills) —Myers 8 (4), Schafer 7 (5), Larsen 4 (2), Inman 4 (00, Allison Marshall 4 (3), Tonna Damewood 3 (1), Dalton 3 (0), Lund 2 (1), Jacobs 1 (1), Sam Larsen 1 (0)

Incomplete stats at time of press.