The #7 (2A) Aplington-Parkersburg volleyball team overcame some tough stretches and defeated #14 (2A) Hudson 3-1 at home in Thursday’s NICL-Central opener. The Falcons won by set scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 26-24.
Was great to have all 4 levels playing last night. JV got the 2-0 win, JJV and Frosh got splits. Varsity found ways to get a 3-1 win against a good #14 (2A) Hudson team. Big shout out to @ApSection. You were loud, proud and brought the energy for us all week! #1T1W #redpride
— A-P Volleyball (@APVolleyball1) September 6, 2024
In the first set, Hudson led 19-15, but the Falcons scored 10 of the next 12 points to come back for a 1-0 lead. AP led 20-18, but squandered the lead as Hudson tied the match at 1-1. In set 3, the Falcons scored five straight points to extend their lead to 19-12, and they pulled away for a 2-1 lead. Hudson was in control throughout the first part of the fourth set, inducing a 16-13 advantage. AP fought back, and a Zoey Uhlenhopp block gave the Falcons a 22-21 lead. Hudson had set point at 24-23, but a Peyton Klooster kill tied it at 24, followed by a Klooster ace to give the Falcons match point. After a timeout, AP was awarded the winning point due to Hudson being out of rotation.
Head Coach Candace Kleespies says it was a resilient win, despite several errors that kept Hudson within striking distance.
“We honestly trailed almost every single set and had to battle back,” Kleespies says. “And we keep telling them we’re pushing first to five and just didn’t get that done tonight in all four sets, but they stayed with it, even through we just weren’t playing our best ball, but we stayed with it and just made some smarter shots and then just dug deep more defensively and tried to get Bella that ball so that we had more options with our offense.”
Klooster led with 22 kills and Uhlenhopp had 12. Bella Buseman had 45 assists and four aces.
AP (8-0, 1-0 NICL-C) will return to action Tuesday at #6 (2A) Dike-New Hartford, a match that’ll air on 99 The Wave.
Candace Kleespies interview:
