Panthers shut out in playoff opener

WINTERSET – Creston volleyball bowed out of Class 4A postseason play Tuesday night with a 3-0 loss to Winterset.

The Huskies won 25-17, 25-19 and 25-13. With the loss, Creston finishes the season at 6-17.

To open the contest, the Panthers gained the first point, holding a lead briefly at 1-0, 2-1 and again at 10-8 after a 6-1 stretch. Control of the game was short lived as Winterset found its legs, got acclimated and took off.

An 8-1 run put Winterset up by five at 16-11. The lead was never less than that through the set, with the Huskies dominating to close out at 25-17.

Entering the second set, Creston had a new look to them and looked recharged. A 12-5 lead, which included a 6-0 run off Bri Fields’ serve, had Creston in shape to even up the score at 1-1.

But Winterset had other plans. Down 18-10, the Huskies rallied off a 14-0 run to completely flip the game on its head. Leading 24-18, Winterset closed out the set with the final point at 25-19 with ease.

Winterset’s successful comeback was due in part by its ability to track down numerous second-chance opportunities off the initial bump. Keeping the ball alive, the Huskies seemingly were never out of any point, and caused problems for the Panthers from the jump.

“They’re a scrappy team, so we worked out out-of-the-system balls, free balls, a lot of that stuff,” said Creston head coach Traci Haley. “We worked on our serve-receive, and they got us on their serves. I feel like a lot of things we prepared for didn’t work for us.”

In the second set, the Panthers had four aces in six points by Lauren Carter go against them, with poor receiving off serves proving a crucial part of how the Panthers lost the set.

“A lot of times our base, our platform, our fundamental passing isn’t there,” said Haley. “We reinforce (that) and make sure who’s going to step back and pass. Tonight, it just didn’t work for us.”

When asked if there was anything she would do differently, Haley said Winterset playing aggressive, forcing mistakes, helped Creston lose itself in the game.

“One error here and there, and we couldn’t pull ourselves out of that [hole],” said Haley. “... They were able to push forward, and that’s how they got us. ... Lose to teams that keep coming at us until we make an error, and once we do, then we start beating ourselves up. You can tell in the body language.”

The Huskies continued to roll in the third set, going up 7-1. The Panthers battled to stay within five, but the difference came near the mid-way point of the set.

Winterset put a bow on Creston and closed out the quarterfinal with a 25-13 third set.

Traci Haley, the mother of 2018 Creston graduate and former volleyball player Meg Haley, knows how the kids are feeling after a season-ending loss.

“They’re feeling pretty bad,” said Haley. “There’s nine (seniors) on our team and all are very good leaders. You might not see them on the court every time, but they’re in the gym, pushing everybody. They’re all feeling it. It’s come to an end.”

Maddie Frey, Sam Dunphy, Karly Calvin, Kaci Abildtrup, Payton Luther, Rylie Driskell, Peyton Rice, Ryli Abildtrup and Kelsey Fields all played their final game with Creston volleyball Monday.

Driskell led in setting with 17 assists. Frey led in digs with 12 and Kelsey Fields had the high in kills with 13. Kelsey Fields also led in blocks with four solos.

Frey was 11-for-11 from serve with one ace.

The loss for Creston moves the Huskies on in Class 4A Region 2 to play Class 4A No. 4 Glenwood.

Winterset 3, Creston 0

Serving (aces) — Maddie Frey 11-11 (1), Sam Dunphy 5-6, Karly Calvin 4-4 (1), Rylie Driskell 5-5, Bri Fields 9-10 (1), Morgan Driskell 5-6 (1), Peyton Rice 3-3.

Attacks (kills) — Dunphy 13-18 (2), Calvin 2-2, Rylie Driskell 5-6 (1), Bri Fields 16-19 (2), Morgan Driskell 6-8 (3), Rice 0-2, Ryli Abildtrup 10-12 (3), Kelsey Fields 26-30 (13).

Blocks — Kelsey Fields 4-0, Morgan Driskell 3-2, Bri Fields 0-1, Dunphy 0-1.

Setting (assists) — Rylie Driskell 55-61 (17), Frey 5-5 (1).

Digs — Frey 12, Calvin 6, Bri Fields 2, Rice 5, Kelsey Fields 1.