Lady Trojans open new year with a sweep
HARTINGTON — So far, so good for the Cedar Catholic Lady Trojan volleyball team.
Cedar started the campaign in impressive fashion, beating both Randolph (25-20, 25-22) and Homer (25-20, 25-17) to get things off and running.
Cedar got off to a slow start Thursday against Homer, but pulled away late in the first set with a big scoring run.
“We are really working to play disciplined all the time and make smart decisions on the court,” Cedar head coach Denae Buss said. “We have the potential to be a really great team if we just execute all the time. It was a really good week of games for us. Everyone really came together as a team, and we played some tough matches this week. Also, our crowd was very enthusiastic on Thursday night and really kept our energy up.”
In the win against Randolph, the Trojans were led by Laney Kathol (four kills, six aces, three blocks), Grace Wortmann (four kills), Meredith McGregor (four aces, seven assists) and Olivia Hamilton (three aces).
In beating Homer, Kathol (six kills), Lexi Eickhoff (five kills), McGregor (three aces, seven assists), Katy Jones (nine digs) and Cady Uttecht (six assists) set the tone.
Hamilton, who steps in as a serving specialist and can also play the setter position, felt the team was impressive in the first two matches.
“We really did come together as a team and we have really gotten it through to ourselves that it’s ‘we over me’ and we play well together,” Hamilton said. “I feel we are all pretty well rounded. We are all positive and out there to win and we do what’s best for the team. We will have a tough schedule this year, but I think we will get through it.”
Having to match Homer point for point in the early going, and then pulling away for the win showed that the Lady Trojans are ready to battle, Hamilton said.
“I feel we are really good under pressure,” Hamilton said. “It was hard this summer – we played some really hard teams – and it taught us a lesson to stay calm under pressure and just do what we are good at and it will work out in the end.”
Hamilton is hoping to contribute wherever she can and even though she wasn’t setting for much of the first two matches, she was able to assess the attack.
“We have gotten really good at mixing our sets up and its harder for the blockers to follow us,” Hamilton said. “Coach is really pushing us to set more quicks and keep things at a faster pace.”
Cedar Catholic faced a strong Lutheran High Northeast squad Tuesday before heading to the SCOTUS tournament over the weekend.
“That is a tournament filled with great teams,” Buss said. “This will be a big week for us.”
Cedar Catholic 25 25
Homer 20 17
KILLS Cedar - Laney Kathol, 6; Lexi Eickhoff, 5; Grace Wortman, 2; Katy Jones, 1; Lauren Bernecker, 1.
ACE SERVES Cedar - Meredith McGregor, 3; Cady Uttecht, 2; Laney Kathol, 1.
BLOCKS Cedar - Laney Kathol, 1.
SET ASSISTS Cedar - Meredith McGregor, 7; Cady Uttecht, 6; Annika Kuehn, 1.
DIGS Cedar - Katy Jones, 9; Annika Kuehn, 3; Meredith McGregor, 2; Cady Uttecht, 2; Grace Wortmann, 2; Laney Kathol, 1.
Cedar Catholic 25 25
Randolph 20 22
KILLS Cedar - Laney Kathol, 4; Grace Wortman, 4; Lexi Eickhoff, 2; Katy Jones, 1; Lauren Bernecker, 1. Randolph - Erin Engel, 2; Ella Scott, 2; Emma Munter, 1; Bailey Beal, 1.
ACE SERVES Cedar - Laney Kathol, 6; Meredith McGregor, 4; Olivia Hamilton, 3; Cady Uttecht, 1. Randolph - Bailey Beal, 1.
BLOCKS Cedar - Laney Kathol, 3; Grace Wortmann,2; Lexi Eickhoff, 2; Cady Uttecht, 2; Katy Jones, 1. Randolph - Erin Engle, 1; Bailey Beal, 1.
SET ASSISTS Cedar - Meredith McGregor, 7; Cady Uttecht, 2; Annika Kuehn, 1.
DIGS: Cedar - Katy Jones, 5; Meredith McGregor, 5; Annika Kuehn, 4; Cady Uttecht, 2; Grace Wortmann, 2; Olivia Hamilton, 2; Jordyn Steffen, 1. Randolph - Ariel Fye, 6; Grace Nordhues, 4; Ella Scott, 3; Jacey Bartels, 3; Erin Engel, 2; Bailey Beal, 1; Breanna Sporleder, 1; Emma Munter, 1.
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