Shorthanded Panthers battle Regina

     It was a different look for the Monticello Panther volleyball team when it traveled to Iowa City Regina for an Oct. 4 match, the final match of the regular season.

     Junior Jordan Kuper missed the match with a back injury, forcing adjustments in the Panther lineup, which weren’t effective enough against traditional power Iowa City Regina. Monticello lost the match 16-25, 16-25, 11-25.

     “Jordan was out, so we had kiddos playing in different positions and in different places in the rotation,” Monticello coach Stacie Breitbach said. “We just didn’t seem as comfortable or confident with the adjusted lineup.”

     Despite that, the coach said, “the girls accepted the new challenge and played hard.”

     The Panthers also had some bright spots statistically. The team made 41 digs, led by Jaelynn Kraus with 13, Tori McDonald and Mallory Steiner with seven apiece.

     Beka Prull had six kills and Carly Hayen had four, with the help of assists from Mallory Steiner (nine) and McDonald (five).

     Prull also served 11-for-12 with three aces. Kraus had two aces. Those serving 100 percent included Clara Finger, Steiner and McDonald.

     The Panthers finished the regular season 1-7 in the conference, 11-19 overall.

Conference tourney next

     Monticello was scheduled to begin play in the RVC Tournament Tuesday Oct. 9. For the first day of the tournament there are four different sites of three or four teams each, playing a round robin. The top two at each site advance to the eight-team bracket round, set for Oct. 11 at a site to be determined.

     Teams that don’t advance will be placed in a consolation tournament the same evening, also at a site to be determined.

     The Panthers were scheduled to open the tournament in a three-team group playing at Durant, which also included Cascade.

Oct. 4

I.C. Regina 3, Monticello 0

MONTICELLO                            Kl    Bl  Dg    Ac

Jaelynn Kraus                              2      0   13      2

Tori McDonald                              2      0      7      0

Carly Hayen                                 4      0      0      0

Sophie Hodge                              0      0      3      1

Beka Prull                                    6      1      1      3

Mallory Steiner                             0      0      7      1

Clara Finger                                 2      0      4      0

Marissa McNally                          1      0      0      0

Lainey Fellinger                           1      0      4      0

Leah Holub                                   0      0      2      0

Megan James                               0      0      0      0

Totals                                          18     1     41     7

Assists – Steiner 9, McDonald 5, Kraus 1,

McNally 1, Holub 1.

Serving leaders – Steiner 7-7, McDonald

6-6, Finger 6-6, Prull 11-12.

Set scores

Monticello                   16   16   11

Iowa City Regina        25   25   25