The first set was close at the start in spite of five kills by Madison Baier. The Trojans were able to break through when Kaleigh Sieck began serving at 10-8.
A kill by Paige Van Dyk was answered by a kill from Abby Nuese. Jade Rohach added a kill on the next point followed by two ace serves by Sieck. At 14-9, East Marshall took a time out.
A ball hit out of bounds gave the Trojans a 15-9 lead until a Mustang kill made it 15-10 and side out.
A push by Trisha Walz came at 18-13 and the momentum swing was in full motion. After a Baier kill and an ace made it 21-13, East Marshall called its second timeout.
A nice double block by Baier and P. Van Dyk was followed two points later by a Kendra Bradley kill for set point. The game was safely in the win column, 25-13.
In the second set, South Tama jumped out quickly to a 3-0 lead behind a Rohach kill and a Baier block.
After getting the ball back at 3-1, the Mustang’s Chantelle Eicher immediately served up an ace to close it to 3-2.
P. Van Dyk’s kill at 8-5 was followed by a service error. “We’re getting better, but we still need to work on serving” the next few days before district play, noted Coach Michelle Bradley.
After losing a long volley and then misfiring on a long kill attempt, the Trojans suddenly found themselves all even with the Mustangs, 8-8.
The Trojans mounted a small run, building up a 12-8 lead behind Rohach and P. Van Dyk. Eicher’s kill stopped the rally at 12-9.
Katie Roseland’s ace and another kill by Eicher closed the gap to 12-11. Rohach answered with two more points, the Mustangs were called for being under the net, and then Rohach added another kill.
East Marshall called a timeout at 16-11.
Walz’s kill made it 17-11 before a long kill attempt led to a side out to the Mustangs at 17-12.
At 18-12, Eicher’s jump serve was effective. An ace, a net violation and a tip by Karly Long closed the gap to 18-15. A long kill attempt gave the ball back to the Trojans, 19-15.
Baier’s kill helped the Trojans take charge again. A Mustang kill attempt that went into the net led to East Marshall calling time out at 22-15.
A long kill attempt set the stage at 23-15 for the Trojans. P. Van Dyk and Baier finished off the Mustangs with consecutive kills, 25-15.
The third set started off close again. After 13 points, South Tama held an 8-5 lead, largely on two kills by P. Van Dyke, one by Walz, one by Baier and another by Taylor Van Dyk. An ace by Eicher, a kill by Nuese, and South Tama errors helped the Mustangs keep pace.
Walz’s big swing helped the Trojans stake out an 11-5 lead. A net violation and an ace by Paige Slifer put the Mustangs within four, 11-7.
“We closed nicely tonight,” remarked Bradley. “We didn’t let the other team get a big run on us.” Instead, the Trojans went on a 14-1 romp of their own to close out the third game.
Sieck, who had an outstanding night serving, took the ball at 12-7 and reeled off a nine-point string before a long kill attempt made it 21- 8. Mixed in the run were three Rohach kills, an ace, and an East Marshall time out at 16-7.
South Tama immediately got the ball back after a service error put the ball back in Rohach’s hands. South Tama’s two big middles finished the job with a Baier tip, a Rohach ace and a Baier block for game and match point, 25-8.
“The girls were having fun tonight. They kept each other up,” observed Bradley in post-match comments. “I really liked the communication tonight between front and back rows. They stayed positive.”
The Trojans have some time off before district play. “We are now focused on Vinton” October 24, their first round opponent. “We need to clean up the little things now, positions and serving. Our serving is right at 90%, but that still needs to improve. Just two or three fewer service errors can make a big difference,” explained Bradley as she looked ahead at the coming week.
Unofficially, Baier led in kills with 9, followed by Rohach with 8 and P. Van Dyk and Walz with 6 each. K. Bradley had an outstanding night running the offense as the Trojan setter finished with 31 assists for the evening. Kaleigh Sieck led the Trojans in digs with 9.
South Tama County improves to 14-14 overall. East Marshall falls to 2-20 on the season.
In earlier action, the JV continued in their winning ways, 25-17 and 25-19. The freshmen also won in two sets, 21-8 and 21-10.
Article Photos
South Tama's Taylor Van Dyk (9) and Jade Rohach (5) set a double block against East Marshall's Chantelle Eicher (8) in varsity volleyball action Oct. 11 in Le Grand. The Trojans won in three, 25-13, 25-15 and 25-8.
photo/Jeff Barker