Huskies advance in regional

WINTERSET — Zoey Breeding led a Winterset attack that ended Creston’s volleyball season in Class 4A Region 2 action Tuesday night.

Breeding, a 5-8 junior, finished with 14 of her team’s 30 kills while also contributing to the defense with nine digs and one block in the 25-14, 25-10, 25-11 sweep. Breeding also hit two ace serves.

Creston was unable to match the Huskies’ offense, finishing with only eight kills. Sophomore Braylee Pokorny had three kills and matched sophomore Brynn Tussey with two blocks.

“Braylee and Brynn did a great job in the front row blocking, but we weren’t getting the swings we needed,” Creston coach Teresa Arkfeld said. “We weren’t getting our passes up. We had more free balls than anything.”

Serving inconsistency hampered the Creston team in its 5-20 season, finishing at 77% Tuesday with just one ace by Pokorny. For the season, Creston served at 84.9%. Winterset has a team serving rate of 91.9%, and served 88.9% Tuesday night with six aces.

“Our serving efficiency goal is 95 percent, so we have to improve on that next year,” Arkfeld said.

Creston’s last set victory was Sept. 5 in a 3-1 loss to Atlantic, finishing 14-56 in sets for the season. However, five of Tuesday’s starters were sophomores, so experience gained this season could be helpful in improvement ahead.

“I’m ready for next year right now, because I know our young players want something more, to be that team that’s known to everybody,” Arkfeld said. “We lost Kadley Bailey to injury (broken hand) this season, and it will definitely help to have her back.”

Bailey was one of the primary setters on the team and active in back row defense, as well as one of the top servers at 92.8% with 14 aces before her injury.

Tuesday’s match ended the careers of Panther seniors Kolbey Bailey, Bailee Schmitt and Morgan Van Gelder. Kolbey Bailey filled Kadley’s role as a setter with Hollyn Rieck after the injury, and finished second in kills this season with 63 behind Jaycee Hanson’s 85.

“Our three seniors all had good attitudes this year,” Arkfeld said. “They stayed positive and cheered the team on.”

Winterset (11-19) advanced to Thursday’s regional semifinal match at 29-10 Glenwood.

Statistical leaders

Serving (aces) — Cr: Braylee Pokorny 5-7 (1), Ella Turner 8-9, Mila Kuhns 5-7, Hollyn Rieck 5-6, Jaycee Hanson 4-4. W: Zoey Breeding 10-10 (2), Callie Welsch 4-5 (1), Jaya Kleemeier 13-14 (1), Molly Breeding 15-16 (1), Tara Vandewater 15-16 (1).

Attacks (kills) — Cr: Pokorny 3, Rieck 2, Hanson 2, Kolbey Bailey 1. W: Zoey Breeding 14, Dottie Reed 4, Brynn Acton 4, Molly Breeding 3.

Blocks — Cr: Pokorny 2, Brynn Tussey 2, Rieck 1, Turner 1, Hanson 1. W: Haelynn Forsyth 1, Z. Breeding 1, Acton 1.

Setting (assists) — Cr: Rieck 4, Kuhns 2, Bailey 1. W: M. Breeding 21, Vandewater 2.

Digs — Cr: Kuhns 8, Rieck 6, Bailey 5, Hanson 4, Turner 3. W: M. Breeding 11, Z. Breeding 9, Kleemeier 7, Vandewater 6.