Wynot girls overcome slow start to stay unbeaten

HARTINGTON — The Wynot Lady Blue Devils moved to 8-0 with two wins last week.

Wynot rolled past Bloomfield 3-0 (25-13, 25-8, 25-21) and then held on Thursday to beat a young and scrappy Hartington-Newcastle squad 3-2 (25- 19, 25-20, 21-25, 17-25, 15-2).

“Hartington-Newcastle game is always a good one. We both play each other really tough. I knew going into the game that it was going to be a close scoring game. I just didn’t know it was going to be five-set match.

It was a barnburner for sure, but unfortunately for the Hartington-Newcastle volleyball team, they came out on the rougher end of the result.

Kayden Jueden led the way with 18 kills while Erin Folkers added nine kills and Lauren Howell contributed five kills.

The Lady Wildcats (4-7) served up 13 aces, six of them from senior serving ace Makenna Clarkson and Keanna Korth aided the attack with four solo blocks.

Jueden added 35 digs and Olivia Grutsch finished with 26 digs, while Mani Lange and Alivia Morten played up 12 digs apiece.

Morten finished with a team-high 30 assists. “Playing Wynot is always a fun game to watch,” Hartington-Newcastle head coach Leigh Haselhorst said. “Both sides showed fantastic hustle and there were some of the longest rallies I have ever seen in high school volleyball. I have the utmost respect for Wynot’s volleyball program. There was some great defense on both sides. I have been so impressed with my freshman players.

“I was really proud of my whole team for battling back after losing the first two. It says a lot about their character and drive. They are warriors. Volleyball is a great sport that involves so many people. I think our bench is top notch because they are so involved in the game. They are always the loudest ones in the gym.”

Jueden’s stellar defensive effort was befitting of a player who recently surpassed the hallowed 1,000- dig marker for a career.

The Lady Wildcats played at Bloomfield on Tuesday and will take on Wausa next week.

“This week is another opportunity for us to improve since we only have one game,” Haselhorst said. “We have come a long way since the beginning of the year. Right now, we are just working on staying consistent. I truly believe our record does not reflect who we really are. A lot of the things we are working on are what we can control on our side of the net like communication.”

Communication hasn’t been at issue when it comes to team unity against COVID-19.

“I am just so incredibly happy we are still in school and playing sports,” Haselhorst said. “I am so grateful our team has stayed healthy. I told them at the beginning of the year that the healthiest teams will be the most successful. They want to see the volleyball season all the way through, so they are following all the rules for COVID-19.”

HNS 19 20 25 25 2

Wynot 25 25 21 17 15

KILLS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 17; Erin Folkers, 8; Lauren Howell, 4; Keanna Korth, 1. Wynot - Karley Heimes, 14; Edyn Sudbeck, 8; Kendra Pinkelman, 7; Autumn Lawson, 6; Krystal Sudbeck, 6; Amber Lawson, 3; Chloe Heimes, 1.

BLOCKS HNS -Keanna Korth, 4. Wynot - Autumn Lawson, 9; Krystal Sudbeck, 6; Kendra Pinkelman, 5; Amber Lawson, 4; Karley Heimes, 3; Edyn Sudbeck, 2.

ACE SERVES HNS - Makenna Clarkson, 6; Kayden Jueden, 3; Olivia Grutsch, 3; Keeley Wiepen, 1. Wynot - Kendra Pinkelman, 4; Autumn Lawson,3; Edyn Sudbeck, 2; Emersyn Sudbeck, 1; Chloe Heimes, 1.

SET ASSISTS HNS - Alivia Morten, 30; Lauren Howell, 2; Kennadi Peitz, 1; Keanna Korth, 1. Wynot - Edyn Sudbeck, 17; Chloe Heimes, 14; Krystal Sudbeck, 3; Emersyn Sudbeck, 1; Autumn Lawson, 1.

DIGS HNS - Kayden Jueden, 35; Olivia Grutsch, 26; Alivia Morten, 12; Mani Lange, 12; Erin Folkers, 11; Keanna Korth, 6; Lauren Howell, 3; Keeley Wiepen, 2; Makenna Clarkson, 1; Kennadi Peitz, 1. Wynot - Emersyn Sudbeck, 36; Karley Heimes, 29; Edyn Sudbeck, 21; Kendra Pinkelman, 12; Autumn Lawson, 7; Krystal Sudbeck, 6; Chloe Heimes, 4; Amber Lawson, 2; Kayla Pinkelman, 2.

Stay in the know!

To get news alerts on your cell phone, get the Cedar County News app in the ITunes store or  in the Google Play Store.