Wolverines drop three matches at GVC

DES MOINES — While Nodaway Valley/OM volleyball felt they left a lot on the court with three losses last Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Grand View Christian, the Wolverines continue to receive quality contributions from several members of the team.

The team also lost 3-0 to Southeast Warren in the opening round 2 vs. 7 matchup of the Pride of Iowa Conference Tournament. Other first round winners included East Union, Martensdale-St. Marys, Mount Ayr and Southwest Valley.

At GVC, results were a 2-0 loss to Des Moines East (20-25, 17-25), a 2-0 loss to Grand View Christian (14-25, 25-27) and a 2-0 loss to Panorama (19-25, 22-25).

“That night I think we struggled a little bit. We could have been capable of playing with all three of those teams. For lack better words, we didn’t really show up to play that night,” NV/OM head coach Allie Kiburz said. “There were glimpses of it as we went through, but we really couldn’t finish any games.”

Senior Kylie Nelson (5) and sophomore Taylor Laughery (4) led in kills against East High. Junior setter Adelaide Livingston orchestrated the offense with 13 assists. Nelson made half of the team’s six blocks and Allie Cornelison made 11 digs.

Senior Emma Boswell scored five kills against the host Thunder while Nelson tacked on four and Thompson had eight assists. Senior Izzy Eisbach, Nelson and Laughery each blocked a shot. Thompson and Laughery made two aces apiece. Cornelison finished with a team-high seven digs.

Eisbach, Nelson and Boswell, with three apiece, combined for nine of the Wolverines’ 13 kills against Panorama, as Thompson totaled eight assists. Junior Addi Herr made one block and Nelson tallied three. Cornelison dug 11 balls while Thompson and Boswell made six digs apiece. Herr scored half of the team’s six aces.

Despite the losses, balance was evidence at GVC, and Kiburz sees that trait as a benfit to her entire group.

“I’m not really too nervous to sub people in,” she said. “Volleyball is sometimes a game of momentum, and that can be hard when you put a sub in. I think that’s an advantage we have, that I’m pretty confident in everybody’s skills and who can contribute during games. It doesn’t really take us down a notch much.”

Kiburz said that senior Mallory Russell and juniors Adelaide Livingston and Ava Armstrong all gave the group a needed spark off the bench on the night.

The Wolverines, seeded seventh, were scheduled to play at No. 2 seed Southeast Warren Monday to start Pride of Iowa Conference tournament action with the winner moving on to Tuesday at Martensdale-St. Marys.

Class 2A regional tournament brackets were also released last week and in Region 4, NV/OM travels Monday, Oct. 20, to West Central Valley. The Wolverines faced the Wildcats once this season, in a quadrangular at Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center.

“The regional tournament is about starting fresh. I think West Central Valley’s going to be a really good draw for us. We played very competitively with them at AC/GC. We beat them in a set that night,” Kiburz said. “Being able to have played them before, seeing where their weaknesses are and using that during practice [will hopefully be a benefit]. I think we’re pretty comparable skill-wise to West Central Valley. I think the game of momentum and being able to finish is going to be important.”