The #5 (2A) Aplington-Parkersburg volleyball team didn’t surrender a set and went 2-0; and #6 (2A) South Hardin went 1-1 in NICL triangular at Oelwein on Tuesday as aired on 99 The Wave. A-P won 2-0 over #6 (2A) South Hardin (25-20, 25-17) and 2-0 over Oelwein (25-10, 25-5). South Hardin won 2-0 over Oelwein (25-11, 25-7).
The first match of the night featured a ranked NICL quarterfinal rematch between #5 (2A) Aplington-Parkersburg and #6 (2A) South Hardin. In Set 1, following a 3-3 tie, A-P took a 5-3 lead and maintained at least a three point lead for the remainder of the set. In Set 2, following a 8-8 tie, A-P went on a 4-0 run to go up 12-8, the Falcons remained in control with a 20-14 lead and closed out the match sweep.
In the second match, South Hardin took on Oelwein. In Set 1, the Tigers pulled ahead to a 6-2 lead, then went on a 19-9 scoring run to claim the set. In Set 2, the Tigers went on a 15-5 scoring run to begin the set and ended the set on a 10-2 run to finish off the match sweep.
In the third match, Aplington-Parkersburg took the court against Oelwein. In Set 1, the Falcons overpowered the Huskies by getting out to an 11-5 lead and wrapped up the set with a 14-5 scoring run. In Set 2, A-P got off to another strong start at a 14-2 advantage and went on a 9-0 run to secure the set and match sweep.
A-P Head Coach Candace Kleespies on the step up play of the team during an eight match win streak.
“Going into the postseason, if you want to make a run, to get yourself to state, and then make a push when you’re down there, it has to be more than three or four girls. It’s got to be your whole team,” says Kleespies. “Really proud of how all of our girls are stepping up right now. We even have that depth that is getting it done for us too. Really proud of where they’re at. We have just got to keep pushing and keep growing an inch each day.”
South Hardin Head Coach John Teske on making the most of the triangular for postseason prep.
“We worked on a couple of different defenses tonight. We also worked on a couple of different offensive set schematics, and that’s valuable,” says Teske. “You’re always trying to get something out of these teams, out of these opponents and these experiences. It’s a valuable time and we’ll hopefully take this into postseason play.”
Kolbie Wangsness had 12 kills, and Peyton Klooster, Jenzen Klooster, and Zoey Uhlenhopp each had 10 kills on the night to lead A-P. Nora Warburton had 13 kills and Alli Sheldahl had 10 on the night to lead the Tigers.
#5 (2A) Aplington-Parkersburg (32-6) will host #8 (1A) Don Bosco in their regular season finale on Thursday.
#6 (2A) South Hardin (23-8) will host either Sioux Central or Manson-NW Webster in the Class 2A playoffs on Wednesday, October 23.
