JV Panthers host, win tournament

Junior varsity

     The only thing better for a volleyball team than hosting a tournament is winning it.

     Which is what the Monticello junior varsity volleyball team did at its annual invitational Saturday, Sept. 9.

     With a three-set victory over Cascade in the finals, the Panthers took the title, by scores of 21-16, 16-21, 15-10.

     Prior to that, Monticello (5-4) beat Springville and Central City in pool play before losing to Anamosa. The 2-1 record was good enough to put the Panthers into bracket play, where they won a semifinal match 21-17, 21-17 over Northeast to reach the finals.

     “They played as a team and communicated very well,” Monticello coach Kylie McDonell said. “They never gave up, and pushed to the end when needed.”

     Jaelynn Kraus had 23 kills and 34 digs. Gabby Gadient had 13 assists, 13 kills and 12 digs in the tournament. Tori McDonald had 40 assists and 21 digs, and served 47-for-50 with five aces. Clara Finger had 10 kills and 14 digs, and served 26-for-28 with four aces. Carly Hayen had 11 digs and six blocks. Beka Prull had eight kills, nine aces, nine digs and five blocks. Megan James had 43 digs. Marissa McNally had seven aces and six digs. Sophie Hodge had eight digs.

     Earlier, the Panthers opened the season with a three-set sweep of Easton Valley Aug. 29 in Monticello. Scores were 21-4, 21-8, 21-8. Finger served 17-for-17 with six aces. Prull had three kills, two blocks, and served 15-for-15 with three aces. Hayen had three kills and two blocks. McDonald made six assists. Gadient had four assists. Kraus had two kills and two aces. Hodge had three digs. Marissa McNally had two blocks.

     “We served really tough and kept offense on our side,” McDonell said. “The energy on the court was awesome.”

     On Aug. 31, Monticello played at Northeast of Goose Lake, and lost 25-19, 20-25, 9-15.

     “We’ll work on passing off serve receive,” McDonell said. “Our communication was good, and the girls never gave up.”

     McDonald had nine assists, served 9-for-9, and made four digs. Kraus had six kills, served 8-for-8 with three aces, and had two digs. Hayen had four kills. Gadient, Finger, Prull and McNally had two kills apiece. Prull had four digs, while Hodge and McNally had three each. Gadient had three assists.

     Monticello also lost a home match against North Cedar Sept. 5, by scores of 5-25, 14-25; and lost at Durant Sept. 7 by scores of 15-25, 21-25. At Durant, James had 10 digs and Gadient had nine assists.

Fresh-soph

     The freshman-sophomore Monticello volleyball team opened the season at home against Bellevue and North Cedar Aug. 24. Against Bellevue, Monticello won 21-8, 23-21, 18-10. Leah Holub served 9-for-6 with six aces. DeLainy Fellinger had two aces, three assists and two digs. Caroline Olson and Kristen Roher had four aces apiece; Olson served 12-for-12. Aubree Fairley and Josie Brady had two aces each.

     Monticello (1-2) lost to North Cedar 19-21, 18-21. Evee Krouse had two kills. Roher served two aces.

     On Aug. 29, the Panthers played host to Easton Valley in separate freshman and sophomore matches. The Monti freshmen won 21-12, 22-20, 21-17. Fairley served 20-for-20 with four aces, and had two digs. Kenzie Mysak had five aces and three digs. Fellinger had four aces, eight assists and two kills. Maddie Stadtmueller had five kills. Olson served three aces. Adele Hogan had two kills. Josie Brady had one dig.

     The sophomores lost to Easton Valley 9-21, 18-21. Rylee Bauer had three kills. Holub had four assists and served 5-for-5. Payton Jaeger had three aces.

     Next, Montcello played at Northeast of Goose Lake, and lost 23-25, 23-25, 7-15. Megan Mahoney had three kills. Jaeger had five digs, and Allison Barnhart had four. Bauer served 9-for-9 with four aces. Mysak also had four aces, and Krouse had two kills.