Bears 5-3 after eight games to open season
by Gregory R. Norfleet · Sports · September 05, 2019
West Branch’s varsity volleyball team opened the season facing two ranked teams — No. 4 Hudson and No. 12 Grundy Center — and, after a slow start, impressed its new head coach by playing aggressively until the final point.
After taking two losses at the Grundy Center tournament on Aug. 27, the Bears took out a “scrappy” AGWSR for West Branch’s first win of the season.
The Bears also hosted a daylong tournament Saturday, going 4-1. They stand with an overall 5-3 record.
Head Coach Loren Hammerand said the Bears came out “sluggish” after the 118-mile ride to the tournament, but shook it off and “went toe-to-toe” in game two with the host school’s team.
“That was exciting for us,” he said.
He noted that Grundy got up 11-6 at one point, and West Branch rallied to tie the score at 12-all.
“Some may think that, ‘They’re too tough’ and ‘We’re not going to get back in it,’ (but not West Branch’s players)” he said.
Hammerand said many players stepped up with big plays throughout the tournament. He found himself particularly impressed with the Luneckas sisters and junior Lexie Peak.
Delaynie Luneckas, the sophomore, put up high hitting efficiency statistics against all three teams that night.
“We probably need to get the ball to her a bit more,” he said.
Kaiya Luneckas, the senior, “made trouble” for opponents by keeping them off-balance, the coach said.
“She made them have to roll and tip instead of swing away,” Hammerand said.
Peak, a junior, excelled on defense, he said, with blocking and passing that helped keep the ball in play.
While Hudson beat the Bears in two sets, Hammerand noticed two things: The Pirates made West Branch’s back row struggle, but when the Bears kept the ball in play for longer volleys, “the percentage to win the point went up.”
The three-game opener showed the West Branch coach that the team needs to work on its serve-receive — especially after going up against Hudson’s top-ranked server — and the Bears “never gave up.”
“All night long, even in the last game, they kept their energy up and kept fighting, even when we were down,” he noticed. “They decided, ‘We’re not going to roll over.’”
West Branch’s schedule includes seven ranked teams, and five more remain, Hammerand said.
West Branch 0, Hudson 2
The No. 4-ranked Hudson beat West Branch in two sets, 21-8, 21-8, on Aug. 27.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 2-2 serving; Nicki Henson 1 kill, 4 assists, 1 dig, 5-5 serving; Lexi Klinkkammer 5 kills, 1 dig, 1-2 serving; Lila Krall 0-1 serving; Kaiya Luneckas 2 kills, 2 digs, 1 block; Lexie Peak 3 digs, 3-3 serving; Chloe Pence 1 kill, 1 dig; Alex Poppen 1 dig, 2-3 serving; Iva Senio 5 digs, 0-1 serving. Team totals: 9 kills, 4 assists, 14 digs, 1 block, 13-17 serving.
Hudson stats: Jessica Carolan 1 dig, 4-4 serving; Morgan Galbraith 1 kill, 4 digs, 4-6 serving, 2 aces; Sara Hansen 2 kills, 17 assists, 4 digs, 1 block, 9-9 serving, 1 ace; Naomi Henderson 1 kill, 2 digs; Faith Hoffman 1 kill, 2 digs; Emma Kegebein 3 digs, 5-5 serving; Sara Klunder 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 dig, 2-5 serving, 2 aces; Ashlynn Kuhn 12 kills, 3 digs, 1 block, 8-8 serving, 3 aces; Kylee Sallee 3 kills, 4 digs, 4-4 serving. Totals: 21 kills, 18 assists, 24 digs, 2 blocks, 36-41 serving, 8 aces.
West Branch 0, Grundy Center 2
The No. 12-ranked Hudson beat the Bears in two sets, 21-16, 21-16 on Aug. 27.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 1 dig, 4-5 serving, 1 ace; Nicki Henson 6 assists, 1 dig, 3-5 serving; Lexi Klinkkammer 1 kill, 1 dig, 2-2 serving; Delaynie Luneckas 4 kills; Kaiya Luneckas 3 kills, 2 digs, 1 block; Lexie Peak 3 digs, 4-4 serving, 1 ace; Chloe Pence 1 kill, 2 digs; Alex Poppen 1 dig, 3-4 serving; Iva Senio 1 kill, 3 digs, 8-9 serving, 1 ace. Team totals: 10 kills, 6 assists, 14 digs, 1 block, 24-29 serving, 3 aces.
Grundy Center stats: Frannie Brown 5 digs, 3-4 serving; Abby Hamann 6 kills, 1 assist, 2 digs, 3-4; Leslie Homeister 2 kills, 4 digs, 2 blocks, 4-5 serving; Emy Kracht 7 kills, 7 assists, 2 digs, 1 block, 11-12 serving, 1 ace; Jacque Kuester 11 assists, 2 digs, 6-6 serving; Kyah Luhring 4 kills, 6 digs, 2 blocks, 10-10 serving, 1 ace; Lainy Thoren 1 assist; Clarie Verly 2 kills, 1 dig. Totals: 21 kills, 20 assists, 22 digs, 5 blocks, 37-41 serving, 2 aces.
West Branch 2, AGWSR 0
West Branch defeated AGWSRon Aug. 27 in two sets, 21-12, 21-17.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 2 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks, 6-6 serving; Nicki Henson 12 assists, 2 digs, 1 block, 10-11 serving, 3 aces; Lexi Klinkkammer 6 kills, 3 digs, 5-6 serving, 2 aces; Delaynie Luneckas 1 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks; Kaiya Luneckas 4 kills, 3 digs, 3 blocks; Lexie Peak 2 assists, 6 digs, 7-8 serving, 1 ace; Chloe Pence 1 dig, 3-3 serving; Alex Poppen 1 dig, 5-5 serving; Iva Senio 4 kills, 4 digs, 1-2 serving. Team totals: 17 kills, 14 assists, 22 digs, 8 blocks, 37-41 serving, 6 aces.
AGWSR stats: Natalie Gerstein 12 assists, 4 digs, 2-2 serving; Alyssa Hames 1 kill, 1-2 serving; Haileigh Homeyer 1 dig, 3-3 serving; Alayna Hunt 1 assist, 3 digs, 4-5 serving, 1 ace; Makenna Kuper 1 kill, 1 dig, 1 block; Rachel Sicard 4-6 serving; Brynn Smith 9 kills, 1 dig, 4-5 serving; Taylor Sperfslage 2 kills, 5 digs, 1 block, 7-7 serving. Totals: 13 kills, 13 assists, 15 digs, 2 blocks, 25-30 serving, 1 ace.
Bears second at tournament
West Branch made it to the championship round of its home tournament but fell in a rematch with Winfield-Mount Union in three sets.
The Bears along the way blanked Wapello, Prince of Peace and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.
West Branch 2, Wapello 0
West Branch beat Wapello in two sets on Aug. 31, 21-7, 21-16.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 4 kills, 4 blocks, 4-4 serving; Nicki Henson 9 assists, 1 dig, 12-13 serving, 2 aces; Lexi Klinkkammer 2 kills, 2 digs, 1 block, 9-9 serving, 4 aces; Delaynie Luneckas 1 kill, 2 blocks; Kaiya Luneckas 4 kills, 1 dig, 4 blocks; Lexie Peak 3 digs, 1-3 serving, 1 ace; Chloe Pence 1 kill, 1 assist, 2 digs, 2 blocks, 2-2 serving; Alex Poppen 1 dig, 8-8 serving; Iva Senio 3 digs. Totals: 12 kills, 10 assists, 13 digs, 13 blocks, 36-39 serving, 7 aces.
Wapello stats: n/a
West Branch 2, Prince of Peace 0
West Branch beat Prince of Peace in two sets Aug. 31, 21-12, 21-12.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 2 kills, 4 blocks, 4-5 serving; Nicki Henson 8 assists, 1 dig, 1 block, 5-6 serving, 1 ace; Lexi Klinkkammer 2 digs, 1 block, 4-4 serving; Melanie Lamont 1 assist, 2-2 serving; Delaynie Luneckas 1 kill, 1 dig, 5 blocks, 1-1 serving; Kaiya Luneckas 8 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks; Lexie Peak 1 assist, 5 digs, 6-7 serving, 2 aces; Chloe Pence 1 kill, 1 dig, 1-1 serving; Alex Poppen 1 dig, 5-5 serving, 2 aces; Iva Senio 4 digs, 2-2 serving. Totals: 12 kills, 10 assists, 18 digs, 13 blocks, 29-32 serving, 5 aces.
Prince of Peace stats: Anabel Blount 3 kills, 5 digs, 3-3 serving; Grace Dehner 1 kill, 1 assist, 3 digs, 3-3 serving; Isabella Hansen 2 kills, 5 assists, 3 digs, 6-6 serving, 2 aces; Lilly Isenhour 3 kills, 1 assist, 4 digs, 1-1 serving; Paige Kuehl 2 digs, 5-7 serving; Sarah Moeller 3 digs, 2-3 serving. Totals: 8 kills, 7 assists, 20 digs, 20-23 serving, 2 aces.
West Branch 2, Winfield-Mount Union 1
West Branch beat Winfield-Mount Union in three sets on Aug. 31, 22-24, 21-12, 15-10.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 4 kills, 1 dig, 1 block, 8-8 serving; Nicki Henson 1 kill, 23 assists, 3 digs, 1 block, 8-9 serving, 1 ace; Lexi Klinkkammer 10 kills, 3 digs, 1 block, 7-9 serving, 1 ace; Delaynie Luneckas 3 kills, 1 block; Kaiya Luneckas 8 kills, 3 digs, 1 block; Lexie Peak 1 kill, 4 assists, 6 digs, 8-9 serving, 1 ace; Chloe Pence 3 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig, 1 block, 8-9 serving, 1 ace; Alex Poppen 8-8 serving; Iva Senio 2 kills, 3 digs, 1-2 serving. Totals: 32 kills, 28 assists, 20 digs, 6 blocks, 48-54 serving, 4 aces
Winfield-Mount Union stats: Madie Anderson 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 dig; Jenna Buffington 7 kills, 8 digs, 7-7 serving, 1 ace; Kayla Edwards 2 kills, 13 assists, 2 digs, 1 block, 7-7 serving, 1 ace; Emma Haines 3 kills; Melina Oepping 1 kill, 2 digs, 2 blocks, 9-9 serving, 3 aces; Carlee Sloan 5 digs, 9-9 serving, 2 aces; Kyndal Townsley 1 kill, 8 digs, 4-6 serving; Jami Wilkerson 3 kills, 1 assist, 7 digs, 8-9 serving, 1 ace. Totals: 18 kills, 15 assists, 33 digs, 3 blocks, 44-47 serving, 8 aces.
West Branch 2, Eddyville-
Blakesburg-
Fremont 0
West Branch defeated Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in two sets Aug. 31, 25-13, 25-15.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 2 kills, 1 dig, 5 blocks, 7-7 serving; Nicki Henson 2 kills, 14 assists, 9 digs, 1 block, 4-6 serving, 1 ace; Lexi Klinkkammer 10 kills, 4 digs, 1 block, 5-6 serving; Delaynie Luneckas 4 blocks; Kaiya Luneckas 5 kills, 1 assist, 3 digs, 6 blocks, 0-1 serving; Lexie Peak 3 assists, 10 digs, 10-11 serving, 2 aces; Chloe Pence 3 kills, 7-7 serving, 2 aces; Alex Poppen 1 dig, 8-8 serving, 1 ace; Iva Senio 7 digs, 2-3 serving. Totals: 22 kills, 18 assists, 35 digs, 17 blocks, 43-49 serving, 6 aces
Eddyville stats: n/a
West Branch 1, Winfield-Mount Union 2
West Branch lost a rematch with Winfield-Mount Union in three sets on Aug. 31, 25-23, 24-26, 13-15.
West Branch stats: Jaclyn Bloem 3 kills, 3 digs, 5 blocks, 14-14 serving, 1 ace; Nicki Henson 25 assists, 8 digs, 1 block, 16-20, 1 ace; Lexi Klinkkammer 11 kills, 16 digs, 7-7 serving; Delaynie Luneckas 1 kill, 2 blocks; Kaiya Luneckas 13 kills, 19 digs, 3 blocks; Lexie Peak 4 assists, 18 digs, 5-6 serving; Chloe Pence 2 kills, 8 digs, 1 block, 7-7 serving, 2 aces; Alex Poppen 7-9 serving, 2 aces; Iva Senio 1 kill, 5 digs, 2 blocks. Totals: 31 kills, 29 assists, 77 digs, 14 blocks, 56-63 serving, 6 aces.
Winfield-Mount Union stats: Madie Anderson 3 kills, 1 dig; Jenna Buffington 12 kills, 9 digs, 1 block, 8-9 serving, 1 ace; Kayla Edwards 3 kills, 16 assists, 8 digs, 18-19 serving, 6 aces; Emma Haines 1 kill, 1 assist, 2 digs, 1 block; Melina Oepping 2 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks, 12-14 serving, 3 aces; Carlee Sloan 5 digs, 5-5 serving; Kyndal Townsley 1 assist, 12 digs, 9-9 serving, 1 ace; Jami Wilkerson 3 kills, 18 digs, 1 block, 6-6 serving. Totals: 24 kills, 18 assists, 58 digs, 5 blocks, 58-62 serving, 11 aces.
|
|
|
