Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Kimball was the runner-up in the SPVA Conference volleyball tournament held Saturday. Pictured, front row, from left, are: Mikayla Fiehtner, Myriah Tyan, Danika Daum, Ali Hunsaker, Madison Biesecker, Ireland Olson and Madie Snyder. Pictured, back row, from left, are: coach Erin Monheiser, Justine Heeg, Hanna Klosterman, Jannel Fiehtner, Shauntae Daily, Hannah Biesecker, Raelynn Hinton, Kaitlin Wurdeman and coach Jeri Ferguson.
Members of the Kimball volleyball team celebrate together during the SPVA tournament.
Kimball's Mikayla Fiehtner receives the ball during play in the SPVA tournament.
A good solid week of volleyball for the Kimball High Lady Longhorns topped by a runnerup finish at the SPVA Tournament held at Ogallala.
The week started off with a trip to Imperial to face the Chase County girls. Fans were treated to some exciting volleyball with the host school winning in five sets. Chase County won the first two sets 25-16, 25-21, but Kimball battled back to win the next two sets 25-19, 26-24, forcing the fifth and deciding set that the hosts won 16-14.
"Even though we lost this match, coach (Erin) Monheiser and I were extremely proud of our girls. We took huge steps in growth tonight. We were down 22-17 in the third set after losing the first two and it would have been easy for our ladies to pack it in and call it a night, but they didn't! It was a great match," said coach Jeri Ferguson.
From the stat sheets, Madison Biesecker had 13 service points, and Danika Daum 10. Biesecker also had 38 set assists and 15 kills. Daum ended up with 29 kills and 21 set assists. Daum, Biesecker, Myriah Tyan, and Mikayla Fiehtner all had 2 blocks each.
Fiehtner had 8 kills, Madie Snyder 5 kills, and Raelynn Hinton 3 blocks.
Kimball also won the freshman match 23-25, 25-22 and 15-8 with Madison Wynne high in service points with 13 and Kate Reader with 9. Chase County won the JV match 25-17 and 25-17 with Kaitlin Wurdeman with 6 service points and Hannah Biesecker with 5.
In SPVA Tournament play on Saturday, Kimball started out with a two set win over Sutherland with scores of 25-14 and 25-17.
Coach Ferguson said, "For a morning game we played well. We got the start we needed and the Auditorium at Ogallala is not an easy place to play because of the slick floor and the lower ceiling than most gyms we play in so I was very pleased with how we performed," said Ferguson.
Madie Snyder and Ali Hunsaker led in service points with 7 each. Daum had 6 kills and 8 assists, Biesecker 10 assists and 3 kills, Fiehtner 4 kills and 2 blocks.
The Lady Longhorns then went up against Bridgeport, a team they had split with coming into this third meeting. Kimball won in two sets 25-17 27-25.
"Again this was a great match. We kept our composure and moved and talked really well on the floor. The second set we were down 24-23 but tied it up and then went on to win. Bridgeport is a good team so beating them again was very satisfying," said Ferguson.
Daum led with 12 kills, had 9 assists and 2 blocks. Biesecker had 4 kills and 16 set assists. Fiehtner had 5 kills and 2 blocks, Raelynn Hinton 3 kills and Myriah Tyan 2 blocks.
Kimball lost to North Platte St. Pats in the championship match in two sets but took the Irish right to the final serve before suffering the loss. Final scores were 25-23 and 25-22.
Daum had 16 set assists, 5 kills, and 6 service points. Biesecker had 11 kills, 12 assists and 2 blocks. Hunsaker had 5 service points and Fiehtner 2 blocks.
Commenting on this match and the tournament in general, coach Ferguson said, "This was one of those games that we didn't play bad in, but didn't play as well as we had earlier in the day. It was a match that we knew we could have, and maybe should have won. For these young ladies it was the first conference championship game for everyone except Danika, so that added a little anxiety to their play. It was also the first conference championship game for me as a coach so there were things that I learned and grew from as well."
Ferguson went on to say that, "At this time I am very pleased with the improvement in play that our team is making. Our practice sessions are very competitive and the younger kids are constantly pushing the seniors, as well as each other. Ali and Madie are passing the ball extremely well right now. Raelynn is playing very solid all the way around. Myriah played well Saturday and did things to make this team successful that might not show up in the stats. We are excited to head to Morrill on Saturday and compete in the WTC."
Coach Ferguson is referring to the Western Trails Conference Tournament being held at Morrill Saturday. The JV team goes back to Morrill Monday evening and all of the Kimball teams are at Sidney on Tuesday with matches beginning at 5 p.m.
