The #2 (2A) Dike-New Hartford volleyball had a fast start and played with the same intensity to the finish to win 3-0 over South Hardin in a Class 2A Region 2 semifinal on Monday, as aired on 99 The Wave. The Wolverines won by set scores of 25-5, 25-7, 25-8.
In the first set, DNH kept volley’s to a minimum to sprint out to a 10-0 lead. The Wolverines followed that with a 15-5 run to claim the first set. In the second set, the Wolverines maintained an advantage along the net to open with a 12-3 lead. The Wolverines closed out the set on a 13-4 run to put further pressure on the Tigers with a 2-0 lead in the match. In the third set, with some help from the service the Wolverines opened the set with a 15-5 lead. The Wolverines finished the set on a 10-3 run to complete the sweep and advance.
Senior Keely Kauten had 13 kills and senior Abby Jensen had 12 kills in their final home match as Wolverines. Jensen says communication and energy aided a strong performance by the team.
“I think the energy was just really great tonight. We all did a really good job talking to each other. If something was working for us, we made sure to tell our teammates. If we saw something open for somebody else, we made sure just to keep communicating and just kept the energy high,” says Jensen. “We’re excited to get into practice, just focus on taking things one game at a time and enjoying each moment we have out there with each other.”
Five different Tigers each had a kill apiece.
South Hardin Head Coach Cindy Holmes encouraged the team postgame to build on the wins within the losses going forward.
“The girls are a little disappointed in not getting in sync. At the same time I give kudos to Dike for the way that they played and actually continued to play. They never went away even when they had a big lead. They kept on us,” says Holmes. “One thing that we have had all season is, we’ve had wins in the losses and that’s what we talked about in the locker room. The wins and the losses that we take with us into next season, the seniors take into life, we all take into life. Those things cannot be overlooked, that’s very valuable.”
Dike-New Hartford (37-9) will take on Treynor in a 2A regional championship in Ankeny on Wednesday. The match will air on 99 The Wave. South Hardin concluded their season at 12-20 overall.
