The Langford Area volleyball squad picked up a pair of wins in five starts during the past week, including a hard-fought homecoming win over Leola-Frederick last week Tuesday, to run its season mark to 3-3.
Coach Susan Larson’s squad fell to Northwestern in straight sets and took one of three in a tournament at Estelline on Saturday, stopping Wilmot but losing to Hitchcock-Tulare and Great Plains Lutheran.
This week the Lady Lions face a hectic schedule. LA hosted Aberdeen Christian last night Tuesday, Florence-Henry comes to town on Thursday, LA plays in a tournament at Wessington on Saturday, travels to Britton-Hecla on Monday and plays North Central at Roscoe on Tuesday.
LA 25-25-16-25-15
LF 27-17 25-11-12
Langford Area came out on top in a hard-fought homecoming match with Leola-Frederick, winning in five sets.
“It was a great homecoming win for us,” said LA coach Susan Larson. The girls fought hard for five sets... they didn’t let the momentum get away from them. It was a really close game and they stayed focused. We lost our confidence a little in the third set, but their ability to pull it together and rally back was awesome. I’m super proud of them.”
Lizzie Gustafson and Emily Olson both had seven kills and Mariah Tosse had three blocks to lead the Lady Lions at the net, while Alex Darling and Olson both recorded four aces at the service line. Paytyn Marlow had 20 assists, and three players led the way defensively with digs – Darling with 29, Olson 28, and Gustafson 24.
Northwestern 25-25-25
LA 14-7-11
Northwestern made life a bit difficult for the Lady Lions at the net and earned the sweep.
“It was a tough night against a tough team,” noted Larson, “but we actually had one of our best serve receive nights against a really strong serving team. I was very pleased with that. After the first set, we lost a little confidence, but we definitely had runs where we looked really good. Northwestern blocked really well and that made our hitters a little hesitant - that’s something we will work on.”
Gustafson led LA at the net, hitting 20-22 with a pair of kills, and Olson and Autumn Wegleitner had two kills each. Marlow was 8-8 with an ace at the service line and had six assists, while Darling led the way in digs with 9.
Estelline Tourney
Langford Area earned one win in three starts at the Estelline Tournament, downing Wilmot but falling to Hitchcock-Tulare and Great Plains Lutheran.
“We started the day out a little slow against a good team Hitchcock-Tulare,” said Larson. “Our energy and communication were a little low. Our next match up against Great Plains Lutheran, we played much better. I really feel like given another opportunity this is a match we can win. We started with high energy and held the momentum this first set. We needed to get our hitting game going a little stronger in the second set and lost the set with a few unfortunate mistakes. I thought we could fire back in the third set, but we just never regained our momentum.
“It was nice to go home with one win, but Wilmot made us work for it and earn it,” concluded Larson. “Our hitters found their game legs and turned it up as the game progressed.”
Hitchcock-Tulare 25-25
LA 11-5
LA 25-19-13
GPL 14-25-25
Great Plains Lutheran rebounded from a first-set loss to get the win.
Emily Olson pounded four kills and Lizzie Gustafson and and Brooke Dwight had three each and Paytyn Marlow had 19 digs to lead the Lady Lions
LA 25-19-25
Wilmot 17-25-21
LA won a tight match in three sets, taking the opener and finale.
Alex Darling came up with five aces and Emily Olson eight kills for LA.
SEE ALL THE STATS IN THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL
