Panthers volleyball season ends in regional loss at ADM

ADEL – The Panthers got swept in straight sets Tuesday night (11-25, 17-25, 13-25) by the ADM Tigers in Class 4A - Region 2 First Round action.

Creston trailed 8-4 early in the opening set before the Tigers (16-11) got it stuck on automatic.

ADM led 14-5 when Creston called their first time out of the match.

After the time out, Creston and ADM each had three set points and then the Tigers closed the set on a 7-0 run.

“We fought and gave it our all tonight,” Creston coach Teresa Arkfeld said. “There was a couple of times where we got down on ourselves and we couldn’t fight back.”

Creston and ADM were even to start the second set, the teams were tied at 5 until the Tigers went on a 9-1 run.

The Panthers narrowed the gap to a 20-14 deficit, but ADM regained momentum and scored five of the remaining eight points in the set.

“I thought it could’ve gone a lot worse, I was impressed with how they played,” coach Arkfeld said of the team not giving up.

Creston led the third set 3-1, then ADM dug in and went on a 10-3 run.

The Panthers trailed by as few as five points, 13-8, before ADM went on an 11-2 run to solidify the set and match win for the hosts.

“This was my first season and the girls were always there,” coach Arkfeld said of the memories she’ll keep from her first season at the helm of Panther volleyball. “They were dancing in the car rides, I think I lost half my hearing with music blaring, we had a big family movie night last night.”

Creston finished with three of the final four points in the set, and fell 25-13.

“I’m ready for next year, I’m ready to see where we can go next year,” coach Arkfeld said.

Kills – Paup, 6; Dryden, 5; Driskell, 2; Calvin, 2; McKinney, 1.

Blocks – Paup, 1. Dryden, 0.5; Kralik, 0.5.

Assists – Evans, 5; McKinney, 5; Bailey, 2; Paup, 1.

Digs – Coen, 9; Paup, 7; Dryden, 6; Evans, 6; Kralik, 3; Bruce, 3; Driskell, 2; Calvin; 2; McKinney, 1; Bailey, 1.

Aces – Coen, 1.

Morgan Driskell, Hannah Dryden, Halle Evans and Bri Fields are the first senior class for first year head coach Teresa Arkfeld.

“Luckily, Morgan was able to come back tonight and play for her last senior game which was pretty special to the team and to her as well,” coach Arkfeld said the middle hitter. “She was really, really good at serving this year, so we needed that.”

Driskell ended the 2021 season with 59 kills, 20 blocks, 16 aces, 49 digs and a 154-of-159 serve success rate.

“She finally figured out her blocking and her hitting, she kind of got moved all around the place with Morgan, wherever we needed them, that’s where they were at,” coach Arkfeld said of Hannah Dryden.

Dryden finished the 2021 season with 65 kills, 19.5 blocks, 12 aces and 105 digs.

“She came out, she had some really good sets, really good serves and she gave it her all this year,” coach Arkfeld said of Halle Evans.

Evans tallied 14 kills, 203 assists and 90 digs during the season.

Bri Fields wasn’t in action Tuesday, but coach Arkfeld made sure to mention her as well.

“Fields was a main part of our season on and off the court,” coach Arkfeld said. “During the season she was one of the main hitters and always encouraging. Off the court she was loud and supportive on the bench.”

Fields had 68 kills, 16 blocks and 71 digs for the Panthers.