The West Fork volleyball team erased a 1-0 set deficit, and a deficit in each set when it defeated Belmond-Klemme 2-1 as part of Monday’s home triangular that also included Clarksville which aired on 104.9 KLMJ. It was a signature win for the team, according to Head Coach Emily Greimann.
The Warhawks won by set scores of 15-25, 25-23, 16-14. After a rough opening set, the Warhawks scored the first five points in set 2. West Fork led 20-15 late in the set, but the Broncos responded to take a 23-21 lead, two points away from a sweep. But the Warhawks finished strong, and also battled from behind in set 3 to win in bonus points. Greimann on the team’s determination.
“One thing that we always talk to them about is trusting each other and just going out there and playing hard and going for everything until that ball hits the ground, until the whistle is blown,” Greimann says. “And for them, really just working on the next play, focus on the next play, what’s right in front of them, not to get too ahead of themselves and not to get negative about what just happened, but continue to think next play and dig deep, have that grit to finish it out. We were trailing in all of the games. And for them to push through that and continue to stay aggressive. It’s easy to tighten things up and to maybe not swing as much, or not move as quickly because you’re worried about making mistakes. But we just keep preaching, just keep going for it, stay aggressive. And we did have some that really stepped up, like Brylie Hubka for one, continuously stayed aggressive. She kept swinging even towards the end there when it was tight, and those are the types of leaders that you need in that moment.”
Brylie Hubka led with seven kills. Quinn Gabrielson led the Broncos with 15 kills.
In the opener, the Warhawks beat Clarksville 25-23, 25-14. In the first set, Clarksville turned a 21-12 deficit into a 22-21 lead before West Fork surged to the win in straight sets. Keara Wood led the Warhawks with six kills and Sidney Jacobs led the Indians with five kills.
The Broncos defeated the Indians in relatively quick fashion, 25-14, 25-17. Belmond-Klemme was led by Adasyn Lamb’s seven kills, and the team had eight aces.
West Fork has finished the regular season at 10-12 and will be at Central Springs in next week’s regional quarterfinal. Belmond-Klemme (18-8) will be at Newman Catholic Thursday. Clarksville (2-23) will next compete in Saturday’s Iowa Star Conference Tournament.
Emily Greimann interview: