NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior co-captain Paisley Bro scores a kill against AGWSR.

The South Tama varsity volleyball team made their season debut on Thursday, August 28, when they hosted a home triangular against AGWSR and Iowa Falls-Alden. At the end of the night, the Trojans swept both matches and started the year 2-0.

In the first match, STC faced AGWSR and found themselves in an early hole in game one. Falling behind 4-1, the Cougars would extend their lead to a margin of 14-9. But STC sophomore Maylee Rucker secured some momentum for the Trojans when she made a diving save and, then, pushed a shot over for a point to cut the lead to 14-11. STC later tied it at 17-17 when sophomore Stella Zmolek earned a kill. The Trojans followed with an 8-5 run to take their first lead of the game and earn the game one victory, 25-22.

STC dominated the second game against AGSWR, earning a 25-14 victory. The second game was highlighted by a long string of aces by junior co-captain Paisley Bro. Bro served six straight aces to extend the Trojans lead from 17-9 to 23-9. Playing in the best of three format, the game-two win earned STC their first match victory on the season.

In the second match of the night, the Trojans took on Iowa Falls-Alden in a matchup that proved to be tougher. STC never led in game one against the Cadets, as Iowa Falls-Alden used a late 12-4 run to pull away with a 25-14 win. But the Trojans bounced back in a major way in game two. After falling behind 3-1, a kill by junior Mady Boriskey started a comeback for STC. With the addition of two aces served by sophomore Sydney Arp, the Trojans went on a 5-0 run to give them the lead, 6-3. From there, STC added a long run of points with senior Madeline Paxton serving. Arp eventually served again and recorded another ace to give the Trojans a 25-15 win.

This set up an emotional, hard fought, winner-take-all game three. The Cadets jumped out to a 2-1 lead but a run fueled by kills from Zmolek and Boriskey gave STC a 6-4 advantage. As the two teams fought back and forth and exchanged points, two kills by Bro gave the Trojans a 12-7 lead in the middle of the game. In a third game that is only played to 15 points, STC looked like they were going to secure the match. However, Iowa Falls-Alden kept fighting and cut the lead to 14-13. But Zmolek put the game away on an authoritative kill, giving the Trojans an emotional 2-1 match win over the Cadets.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC senior co-captain Rylee Ridout serves against AGWSR.

Up next for the Trojans (2-0) is a trip to Conrad for the BCLUW invite on Saturday, Sept. 6. STC’s next home match will be Sept. 9 against Clear Creek-Amana.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Mady Boriskey scores on a kill against AGWSR.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore setter Maylee Rucker sets up her teammates against AGWSR

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – The STC varsity volleyball team celebrates a point against AGWSR. The Trojans beat the Cougars 2-0.