EV Girls Advance to Silver Bracket

NEW SHARON – English Valleys volleyball coach Robert Barrick was not sure what his team would face when they traveled to New Sharon for the opening round of the South Iowa Cedar League tournament. He knew if his team got past Lynnville-Sully they would have play the undefeated host North Mahaska. 

English Valleys and Lynnville-Sully played the opening match and had not faced each other this season. EV was able to sweep the best-of-three 25-21 and 25-23. The two teams played a third set to get other players into a game, which was also won by EV, 25-20.

North Mahaska entered the match versus the Bears at 17-1 on the season and undefeated in league play. English Valleys pushed the host Warhawks before losing 25-23, 25-13 and 25-19.

“They (North Mahaska) had to play to beat us,” said Barrick. “These were two teams we hadn’t seen this year. We make it to the silver round.”

Both sets against Lynnville-Sully were competitive with neither team holding a lead of more than three points until a pair of aces by Ava Gehrking put the Bears up 24-20. L-S earned a sideout but misplayed a ball to give the Bears the win.

L-S led 9-6 when Gehrking again stepped to the service line and hit a pair of aces to put English Valleys up 12-10. The teams traded scores until the Bears held off Lynnville-Sully. The win advanced the Bears into the pool championship against North Mahaska.

English Valleys led through most of the first rotation, 12-8. North Mahaska closed to 13-12 then a mis-serve by EV tied the set at 13-13. North Mahaska’s Kayla Readshaw hit an ace to put Nm up 15-14 and maintained the lead until EV tied the set at 20-20 on a mis-serve by the Warhawks. Olivia Debevec served the Bears back to 23-23 when NM earned the sideout. Breckyn Schilling’s block gave NM the victory.

“They were able to read us pretty well,” said Barrick. “We made adjustments, but they were able to react.”

With set two tied at 7-7, North Mahaska was able to work the net and take the second set.

“We had too many missed serves,” said Barrick. “You can’t do that against a team like that.”

Winning long volleys went to North Mahaska in the third set. North Mahaska was able to work their way to a five-point lead and maintain it to the end.

In the two matches, Ava Gehrking led English Valleys with eight kills, three blocks and five service aces. Hadyn Bender added five kills, and Olivia Debevec added three aces and a pair of blocks.