The #5 (2A) South Hardin volleyball team used a thorough team performance to sweep #14 (2A) Grundy Center at home Tuesday, as aired on 99 The Wave. The Tigers won 25-14, 25-19, 25-20.
In set 1, the Tigers took advantage of several errors to pull away for their biggest set win of the night. In set 2, South Hardin built a 10-4 lead. But after a timeout, the Spartans scored nine of the next 12 points to tie the match at 13-13. In set 3, Grundy Center built a 20-19 lead, but the Tigers scored the final six to earn the sweep.
“I thought the girls executed our strategy very, very well,” South Hardin coach John Teske says. “And Grundy Center was very good. They actually changed some of the stuff that they were doing, which we expected them to do. And then one of the things that you need to do as a coach is you need to be able to make those changes in game as the game is playing out. And we were able to do that, and the girls were able to execute. And that’s a huge thing for a team to be able to do.”
Ava Salvo led with 15 kills, including several in the third set to help close it out. It was South Hardin’s third win over Grundy Center in program history, and the first win by sweep. The Tigers (6-2, 1-0 NICL-W) will return to action Tuesday, September 10 by hosting Waterloo Columbus and Jesup for a conference triangular.
Grundy Center coach Lori Willis says the team was forced out of system.
“Our youth showed a little too much tonight, where we weren’t passing the ball, where we normally pass the ball,” Willis says. “We weren’t able to be as aggressive as we could because the pass was so far off, the set wasn’t there, you know. We were kind of missing our zones a lot as well. And towards the end, we started tipping a little too much. And rather than playing to win, we kind of played not to lose.”
Ryanne Brubaker had seven kills. Grundy Center (3-1, 0-1 NICL-W) will be at a tournament at #3 (1A) North Tama Saturday.
John Teske interview:
Lori Willis interview:
