Mustang Volleyball Trying to Break Through Against Loaded Conference

North Nodaway's girls volleyball team had designs of making a run at .500 this year, with many of their players back from last year's squad, which won its first district game in school history. But they ran into a loaded Highway 275 conference this year. East Atchison, South Holt, and Rock Port are strong powers, while West Nodaway and Nodaway-Holt formed another two-headed monster in Nodaway Valley this year. 

The goal of the Mustangs is to break into that upper level and get some quality wins. After dropping their first several games, they finally got a win, 3 games to 1 against Essex. They got another win, 25-22, 25-10, 25-19 against South Harrison. They nearly got a third win against Mound City. After falling behind two games to none, they fought back to take the third and fourth games before falling in the fifth game to lose 16-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-23, 14-16. "We didn't play badly," said coach Emily Bix. "We were disappointed in the outcome, but we never got down on each other, we worked as a team, and we communicated well." 

In earlier matches, the Mustangs had been starting off strongly, only to fade in later matches. But more recently, they have been finishing stronger. In the first set in Thursday's game with Nodaway Valley, the game was even for much of the way until the Thunder pulled away for the 25-18 win. In the second game, the Mustangs trailed 16-12 before Nodaway Valley pulled away for another 25-18 win/

In the third frame, the Mustangs started off really well, leading by as much as 14-10. But some line calls didn't go their way, and the Thunder came back and pulled off the 25-23 win. But the Mustangs continued to show improvement, blocking a lot more spike tries than in years past and forcing hitters to either hit into the net or over everyone's heads and out of bounds. 

They had a balanced attack in the effort against the Thunder. Lauren Herndon had 5 kills. Jacquelyn Cline had 4, Saryn Brown and Saylor Brown had 3 each, Ellaina Renfro 2, and Kelsey Barcus 1. Saryn Brown, Lauren Herndon, and Kelsey Barcus had 4 blocks each. Saylor Brown had 2, and Ellaina Renfro and Jacquelyn Cline 1. Sarah Chesnut, Saylor Brown, and Saryn Brown had 2 aces each.

The JV, despite playing against varsity level opposition, with at least one jump server and one middle hitter who could start for another team, had been struggling to reach double digits for much of the year. But they succeeded in conquering that plateau Thursday, falling 7-25, 12-25 to Nodaway Valley.

The Junior High has been coming close and falling short for much of the year, but they took one on the chin 11-25, 13-25. Lacy Riley, Emily Keho, and Addalea Barcus had 2 kills each. Mya Hansen had 2 aces, while Lacy Riley, Sadee Clapp, and Kila Miller had 1 each.