HNS Lady Wildcats find the win column

CREIGHTON — Steady improvement and hard work have paid off for the Hartington-Newcastle Lady Wildcats volleyball team.

Hartington-Newcastle persevered to claim its second win of the season with a sweep over Creighton in the Creighton Invitational Sept. 10.

Earlier in the tournament, the Lady Wildcats lost to West Holt of Atkinson, and after the win over Creighton, they were defeated by Summerland, which consists of the towns of Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard.

Hartington-Newcastle defeated Creighton 25-12 and 25-21, lost to West Holt 25-13, 26-28 and 14-25, and then lost to Summerland in straight sets, 18-25 and 22-25.

In the win over Creighton, Mani Lange and McKenzie Bruning had solid performances at the net with six kills each.

Bruning also added a couple of ace serves and Alivia Morten tipped up a dozen assists. Olivia Grutsch had five set assists.

Grutsch also had 15 digs, Abi Rice added 12 and Morten had 11.

Morten, Kennadi Peitz and Grutsch each had an ace serve.

In the opening match of the tournament, Hartington-Newcastle looked ready to play and blasted West Holt 25-13.

The Lady Wildcats appeared poised to sweep the match in set two, but fell 28-26 in a marathon duel.

The Lady Huskies closed out the match in the third set by the 25-14 final score.

Peitz paced the attack with nine kills in the match; Lange slammed down seven winners.

Grutsch set up the attack with 14 assists, Morten added eight.

Morten had a couple of ace serves while Lange added one.

Lauren Howell was a defensive force at the net with seven blocks.

The back-row defense was paced by Grutsch with 29 digs; Rice had 23, Morten 17, Lange 16 and Peitz 14.

Against the Lady Bobcats, Lange had seven kills; Morten had a pair of ace serves and 10 assists.

Peitz had 14 digs while Bruning had two blocks and Howell added one.

The Lady Wildcats will host Wynot Sept. 15 and then travel to Bloomfield Sept. 20.

Summerland 25 25 Hartington-Newcastle 18 22 Hartington-Newcastle 25 25 Creighton 12 21 Atkinson West Holt 25 24 25 Hartington-Newcastle 13 26 14