Mustangs Show Improvement but Lose in Districts to South Holt

North Nodaway's volleyball team showed a lot of improvement Saturday during districts before falling in straight sets, 17-25, 12-25, 17-25 to South Holt. Previously, North Nodaway had trouble even getting to double figures against the Knights in their first game. They did a little better in their second game, but showed a lot of improvement Saturday, matching them during several stretches before finally going down and ending their season with three wins.

The difference was that everybody on the floor stepped up and contributed in some way. After falling behind 5-3 in the first set, blocks by Kelsey Barcus and Saylor Brown and a kill by Saylor put the Mustangs up 6-5. A kill by Ellaina Renfro put the Mustangs in front 7-6 after the Knights had tied it up.

South Holt, behind the front row hitting of Tanea Whaley and the back row hitting of Mylee Prussman, finally started taking control and went up 14-8, but instead of fading late in the set, as they had in the past, North Nodaway fought back. Jacquelyn Cline got an ace; they got several service aces in Saturday's game after not getting any against East Atchison. Cline then fed Renfro for a kill to make it 14-10. A block by Saylor and Saryn Brown and back to back aces by Saylor Brown cut it to 15-13. 

But then the Knights went on a 3-0 run to move in front again. Kills by Lauren Herndon and Saryn Brown, a block by Jacquelyn Cline and Kelsi Barcus, and an ace by Lauren Herndon kept the margin within four points at 21-17, but then South Holt pulled away for the 25-17 win.

The serving of Hanna Buckles for South Holt turned out to be too much for North Nodaway to handle, as they fell behind 10-0 to start the second set. But then they started fighting back after falling behind 11-1. Lauren Herndon and Saryn Brown got a block, Saryn Brown and Lauren Herndon got kills, and Sarah Chesnut got an ace as the Mustangs pulled to within 11-5. South Holt pulled away to a 15-6 lead, but a block from Jacquelyn Cline and Kelsi Barcus and an ace by Lauren Herndon cut it to 15-8. Kills by Saylor Brown and an ace by Cline kept the game within 8-10 points, but then South Holt pulled away for the 25-12 win.

Needing a win in the third set to keep their season going, they went stride for stride with the Knights to start out as Ellaina Renfro, Lauren Herndon, and Saryn Brown got kills as the game was tied at 1, 2, and 3. But then the black and gold shirts started pulling away, building their lead to 10-5. Kelsi Barcus, who served the best she has all year, dropped an ace to kill the run to make it 10-6. Saylor Brown and Jacquelyn Cline combined on a block to cut it to 12-7, but then the Knights started to pull away again, going up nine again.

The Mustangs made one last stand, starting with a block from Lauren Herndon and Saryn Brown to cut it to 17-9. Kills by Saryn Brown, Lauren Herndon, and Jacquelyn Cline, a block by Cline, and an ace from Herndon got the Mustangs to within 23-17, but the Knights scored the last two points to get the win.