Columbus heats up late, sweats off Wapsi
The battle for what has become one of the state’s most difficult conference crowns began last night in the NICL east. Two teams that made the state tournament last year squared off in a very warm Columbus gym as the…
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Continue ReadingThe battle for what has become one of the state’s most difficult conference crowns began last night in the NICL east.
Two teams that made the state tournament last year squared off in a very warm Columbus gym as the 3A champion Sailors hosted Wapsi, who represented the conference in the 2A bracket.
It was easy to see what the Columbus strategy was early as they fed the states leader in kills, Avery Kroll , on what seemed like every in-system ball. When you have a superstar libero like Kate Shannon, everything seems to be in system.
Wapsi definitely had game planned for Kroll, always having a double block on her, including the long arms of McKenna Joerger. The strategy worked well and Wapsi looked like they were on their way to the upset as they took they took the first set.
Columbus stormed back and as the temperature rose in their gym, so did the urgency of the Sailors. Coach Nuss made a switch at setter from Emily Surma to Sophomore Madi Funk, and Funk provided the change of pace that the sailors needed at that time.
Columbus went on a big run in the second set and had a lead of 20-12 before Kaci Besecker of Wapsi went on a serving run of 5 Points to make things interesting.
But the Sailors battled back and won the next three sets as Funk distributed the ball to an array of offensive weapons such as the hard-hitting Sydney Schultz, who led the Sailors with 16 kills. Funk also found middles Megan Knutson, Freshman Faith Freshwater, and sophomore Ally Vesely, who is emerging as a threat offensively.
The night was puctuated with a gym-rattling exclamation point as Kroll defied the big Wapsi block one final time and delivered a match ending kill as the Sailors cooled down Wapsi 3-1.
The sailors went to 11-4 on the season and Wapsi is now 2-1 on their brief competitive schedule.