Volleyball: NV girls rally for win over MSTM

Anyone that left early last Thursday night missed a come-from-behind win for the Nodaway Valley volleyball team against MSTM. The Wolverines dropped the first two sets before rallying to win the next three to gain the win.

“This is my first win at Nodaway Valley,” said coach Allison Bjork. “These girls work hard. I think this is the best they have played so far this year and that makes this win even sweeter.”

NV fell behind 3-0 in the first set, before eventually rallying for an 11-9 lead on a block at the net by Josie Clarke. The score was tied at 13-13 before a kill by Sadie Marnin gave NV the lead. The Blue Devils took a three-point lead at 23-20, but the Wolverines fought back to tie the score at 23-23. MSTM went on to win, 25-23.

The Wolverines had it going in the second set, shooting out to a 12-1 lead. NV still led 20-13 before MSTM stormed back to within 22-21. A kill by Paige McElfish made it 23-21, but the Blue Devils responded and went on to win 27-25.

“Volleyball is a mental game,” Bjork said. “Any team at any time can come from behind.”

The Wolverines regrouped in set three. NV never trailed in the third set, but there were four ties, the last at 7-7, before NV kicked into gear and started to pull away. Bailey Wiggins sent a return into an empty corner of the floor to give NV a 13-9 lead. It was all Wolverines after that with NV winning, 25-16. The last two points of the set came on ace serves by Marnin.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the fourth set, but the Wolverines eventually tied it up at 5-5 on a kill by Marnin. Clarke and Riley Lonsdale provided ace serves along the way to help NV post a 25-10 win.

A pair of ace serves by Wiggins and a kill by Jodi Baudler was instrumental in helping the Wolverines take the match with a 15-8 win in the fifth set.

“These girls are fighters,’ said Bjork. “Our senior leadership showed through at the end.”

A lot of teams might fold after losing the first two sets, but the ones that are mentally tough can survive the moment.

“We worked hard, running three miles in our two-a-days,” said Marnin. “Each of those last three games were one of those miles.”

Wiggins had 13 assists on the night for the Wolverines, while Marnin had 13 aces and six kills. Clarke had eight kills and two blocks, while McElfish had nine digs and five kills.

The win improved NV to 1-5 on the year.

Stats:

Hitting (kills)- Baudler, 6-6 (2); Clarke, 25-27 (8); Addie Lamb, 1-2; Lonsdale, 7-9 (3); Marnin, 12-18 (6); McElfish, 26-29 (5); Allyson Phillippi, 1-2; Keeley Shantz, 6-7.

Assists- Wiggins, 13; Lamb, 7; Baudler, 3; Clarke, 2; Marnin, 1; Phillippi, 1.

Digs- McElfish, 9; Marnin, 6; Phillippi, 5; Lamb, 1; Wiggins, 1.

Blocks- Clarke, 2; Lonsdale, 2; Baudler, 1; McElfish, 1; Marnin, 1.

Serving (aces)- Marnin, 29-30 (13); McElfish, 19-20 (1); Wiggins, 18-23 (3); Clarke, 14-14 (3); Lamb, 11-12 (1); Lonsdale, 9-13 (3).