Highs and lows for G-H/V volleyball team

It was a week of highs and lows for the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura volleyball team, the Cards blanked Newman, but fell to Forest City, 3-0.

G-H/V 3, Newman 0

The Cardinals came out firing on all cylinders against Newman on Tuesday, Sept. 11. 

In set one, G-H/V took an early 8-3 lead behind the serving of setter Courtney Younge.  Younge recorded two ace serves in the run.  Newman’s stingy defense tied the set at 15-15 before Hannah Hutcheson served the Cards to a 21-18 lead, G-H/V held on for the final 26-24.

Set two was again all Cardinals, as they coasted to a 25-18 victory.

“We were getting three and four point runs that kept the momentum in our favor,” said Coach Tracy Schmidt.

The momentum continued in set three, with the Cardinals picking up an easy 25-15 victory.

Emily Mathews led the team in kills with 17.  Sola Stephenson and Emily Spilman had five kills apiece, while Shelby Rayhons and Hutcheson had three each.

Hutcheson had a strong night at the service line, serving 11/11.  Bethany Nannenga and Spilman were also perfect, serving 10/10 and 8/8 respectively.

Nannenga collected 10 digs, while Mathews had nine and Spilman, Younge and Frederick had seven apiece.

Younge led the team in assists with 29 and also in blocks with three.

Forest City 3, G-H/V 0

The Cardinals traveled to Forest City for a tough conference match-up on Thursday, Sept. 13.

Set one looked like an easy win for the Cardinals, leading 24-16, before the Indians went on a scoring frenzy that G-H/V couldn’t stop.  Forest City took advantage of some Cardinal errors and battled back to take the 26-24 win.

“Volleyball is an amazing sport of momentum.  Once it shifts, it’s difficult to get back,” said Coach Tracy Schmidt.

With the momentum in their favor, the Indians powered through set two with a 25-19 win behind some strong attacks at the net.

The Cardinals appeared to be back in the match in set three, taking an 18-13 lead behind some aggressive serving by Courtney Younge.  The Indians didn’t back down and tied it up 18-18.  The lead see-sawed back and forth, but it was the Indians who walked away with the final 27-25 win.

Emily Mathews had an amazing night for the Cardinals, leading the team in kills with 20, 10 digs and three blocks.  She was also 12/12 at the service line with five ace serves.

Younge also had a good night, leading the team at the service line with a perfect 15/15 and four ace serves.  She also had 22 assists.

Hannah Hutcheson and Younge had nine digs apiece and Shelby Rayhons had eight, while Bethany Nannenga and Miranda Frederick had seven apiece.

The Cardinals are 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference.  The varsity team travels to Bishop Garrigan on Saturday for a tournament.