Lady Cats claim tourney title
HARTINGTON — The Hartington-Newcastle Lady Wildcats are playing well as post-season quickly approaches.
Coach Leigh Haselhorst’s team won its home tourney Saturday for the first time in several years.
“They had to earn every point on Saturday,” Coach Haselhorst said.
HNS is now 12-9 on the year after wins over Wausa, Tri-County Northeast, and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge.
The Purple Pride also suffered setbacks to Randolph and Bloomfield during a busy week of action.
“It was a busy week for us, and you could tell the girls became more comfortable with each rotation change as the day went on,” Coach Haselhorst said.
The week not only featured a lot of action, but a lot of changes, too, which the team had to adjust to.
“This week we had numerous lineup changes. I thought the girls did a great job of adjusting together,” Coach Haselhorst said.
One swap that Haselhorst made on Saturday was moving freshman, Lauren Howell to the middle, and Senior Keeley Wiepen to the right side.
“I thought they both did a fantastic job in their new spots. We got so many more touches on the block,” the HNS Coach said.
Olivia Grutsch also stepped up big time for her team as she was moved from libero to setter.
“She has such good court awareness and would do anything for the team. My outsides, Kayden Jueden and Erin Folkers, helped their team as they are taking on more serve receive and defensive balls. They are always big offensive threats for us but have had to focus a bit more in the back row for us with these new rotations we have been running.
“The Purple Pride is really playing as a team, now,” Coach Haselhorst said.
“I really love to watch these girls play. Our practices are intense just like our games. There is a healthy dose of competitiveness. I like the way we are playing and fighting for each point. I am grateful to be their coach because they are a great group of girls,” she said. “The one thing that I never doubt about this team is their fight. We will continue to work on these new rotations. With any changes in a rotation, there are going to be some kinks that need to be worked.
HNS 18 25 23 25 18
Randolph 25 16 25 15 20
KILLS Randolph - Bailey Beal, 15; Jaiden Taylor, 9; Natalie Munter, 8; Keely Pinkelman, 7; Abby Schmit, 2; Emmalee Harder, 2; Erin Engel, 1. HNS - Kayden Jueden, 21; Erin Folkers, 12; Keanna Korth, 6; Lauren Howell, 4; Keeley Wiepen, 3; Alivia Morten, 1.
ACE SERVES Randolph - Keely Pinkelman, 2; Erin Engel, 1; Natalie Munter, 1; Gracie Eledge, 1. HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 6; Kayden Jueden, 4; Keeley Wiepen, 2; Alivia Morten, 1; Mani Lange, 1; Kennadi Peitz, 1.
BLOCKS Randolph - Bailey Beal, 3; Jaiden Taylor, 2. HNS - Keanna Korth, 2; Kayden Jueden, 2; Keeley Wiepen, 1.
DIGS Randolph - Ariel Fye, 10; Keely Pinkelman, 10; Gracie Eldge, 8; Jaiden Taylor, 5; Natalie Munter, 3; Erin Engel, 2; Abby Schmit, 1. HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 27; Kayden Jueden, 25; Alivia Morten, 15; Kennadi Peitz, 8; Erin Folkers, 8; Lauren Howell, 7; Mani Lange, 6; Keeley Wiepen, 4; Keanna Korth, 3; Makenna Clarkson, 1.
SET ASSISTS Randolph - Erin Engel, 20; Abby Schmit, 19; Emmalee Harder, 1; Keely Pinkelman, 1. HNS - Alivia Morten, 39; Lauren Howell, 4.
Wausa 24 21
Hartington 26 25
KILLS Wausa - Brooke Kumm, 6; Hunter West, 4; Ali Lundberg, 3; Morgan Kleinschmit, 2; Alexa Cunningham, 2. HNS - Kayden Jueden, 9; Lauren Howell, 5; Erin Folkers, 3; Keeley Wiepen, 2; Keanna Korth, 2.
ACE SERVES Wausa - Hunter West, 2; Abrielle Nelson, 1; Ali Lundberg, 1; Morgan Kleinschmit, 1; Clara Schindler, 1. HNS - Mani Lange, 2; Olivia Grutsch, 2; Lauren Howell, 1; Makenna Clarkson, 1.
BLOCKS Wausa - Alexa Cunningham, 6; Morgan Kleinschmit, 4. HNS - Keanna Korth, 2; Kayden Jueden, 1; Lauren Howell, 1; Keeley Wiepen, 1.
DIGS Wausa - Hunter West, 7; Morgan Kleinschmit, 5; Leah Bloomquist, 4; Abby Kaiser, 4; Clara Schindler, 3; Brooke Kumm, 1; Jade Kaiser, 1; Abrielle Nelson, 1. HNS - Kayden Jueden, 11; Lauren Howell, 10; Erin Folkers, 7; Mani Lange, 7; Kennadi Peitz, 4; Olivia Grutsch, 3; Keanna Korth, 3.
SET ASSISTS Wausa - Clara Schindler, 17. HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 21.
Bloomfield 25 25
Hartington 14 19
KILLS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 6; Erin Folkers, 4; Lauren Howell, 3; Olivia Grutsch, 1; Keana Korth, 1.
ACE SERVES HNS - Mani Lange, 1; Keanna Korth, 1.
DIGS HNS - Kennadi Peitz, 8; Kayden Jueden, 8; Keana Korth, 8; Erin Folkers, 7; Lauren Howell, 5; Olivia Grutsch, 3; Keeley Wiepen, 2; Makenna Clarkson, 1.
SET ASSISTS HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 14; Lauren Howell, 1.
LCC 20 21
Hartington 25 25
KILLS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 12; Erin Folkers, 6; Keeley Wiepen, 3; Lauren Howell, 2; Keana Korth, 2. LCC - Erica Wolfgram, 5; Megan Schutte, 5; Berniece McCorkindale, 4; Erica Benson, 4; Kinsey Hall, 2; Hailey Christensen, 1.
ACE SERVES HNS - Keeley Wiepen, 3; Kayden Jueden, 1. Mani Lange, 1; Kennadi Peitz, 1. LCC - Erica Wolfgram, 4; Erica Benson, 1; Kinsey Hall, 1.
BLOCKS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 2; Keana Korth, 2. LCC - Hailey Christensen, 1; Erica Benson, 1.
DIGS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 16; Olivia Grutsch, 12; Mani Lange, 11; Kennadi Peitz, 10; Erin Folkers, 6; Keana Korth, 5; Keeley Wiepen, 3; Lauren Howell, 1; Makenna Clarkson, 1. LCC - Jaiden Urwiler, 11; Kinsey Hall, 7; Erica Wolfgram, 6; Hailey Christensen, 4; P Cook, 4; Berniece McCorkindale, 4.
SET ASSISTS HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 20; Lauren Howell, 1; Erin Folkers, 1. LCC - Kinsey Hall, 11; Hailey Christensen, 5; Cassie Granquist, 1; Erica Wolfgram, 1.
Hartington 25 27
Tri County NE 21 25
KILLS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 8; Erin Folkers, 6; Lauren Howell, 4; Keana Korth, 3; Erin Meisenheimer, 1.
ACE SERVES HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 3; Kayden Jueden, 2; Mani Lange, 1; Lauren Howell, 1.
BLOCKS
HNS - Keanna Korth, 2.
DIGS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 12; Olivia Grutsch, 8; Erin Folkers, 7; Lauren Howell, 5; Erin Meisenheimer, 5; Mani Lange, 4; Keeley Wiepen, 2; Keanna Korth, 2.
SET ASSISTS HNS - Olivia Grutsch, 19; Erin Meisenheimer, 1.
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