The #9 (2A) Aplington-Parkersburg volleyball team closed the regular season with a 3-0 sweep of South Hardin Tuesday, as aired on 99 The Wave and RadioOnTheGo’s YouTube channel. The Falcons won 25-23, 25-20, 25-21.
The first two sets were extremely close, with back-and-forth action featuring numerous ties and lead changes. In set 3, the Tigers built a lead to as many as 9-3, but the Falcons stormed back. After tying the set at 18, the Falcons never looked back and closed the regular season in style.
“We had a really good weekend, so we had a lot of energy coming into today,” senior outside hitter Kolbie Wangsness says. “We knew they were going to be a good opponent, and we obviously didn’t play to our full potential, but I think it showed a lot of grit from all of us that we were able to come out with that three-set win. I’m really proud of everyone, we’ve came a long way from the start of the season, and I think we’re still truly trying to build that full potential. I think we’ll start to see that here in the postseason.”
Head Coach Candace Kleespies says it’s a series that’s becoming a rivalry, having played several intense matches over the years.
“It doesn’t matter who, you can literally throw the records out, I feel like, whenever we play them,” Kleespies says. “Even like a couple years ago when they were truly the better team, and we came in and played them some really tough games. It’s a good volleyball rivalry, I feel like. Just a good battle every time we see them.”
Zoey Uhlenhopp led the Falcons with 11 kills, and Nora Warburton led the Tigers with eight.
Both teams will return to action in regional quarterfinals on Wednesday, October 22.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3yft6Arqus?si=HvRqqWe-Yqz3Bn4D&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU1bJtKZRQk?si=uAg3Q4vZg-pVjmbx&w=560&h=315]
