Aug 29, 2024

By:  Dana Becker, Sports Reporter, The Messenger dbecker@messengernews.net

A slow start quickly turned into a red-hot finish for the seventh-ranked Iowa Central volleyball team here Wednesday night.

Making their Hodges Fieldhouse debut, the Tritons stormed past the William Penn JV in three sets.

Scores were 25-17, 25-10 and 25-20.

"We've played a 5-1 for the past several years but are switching to a 6-2 with two setters," ICCC head coach Sara Horn said. "That takes a little time to get used to. We also used a different rotation just to see what we have from some of the girls.

"I think there were also some nerves with it being the first home match and school starting back up, but I was happy with the way we finished sets."

After falling behind 3-1 and 11-8 early in the first, the Tritons (3-2 overall) rallied, scoring 17 of the last 23 points to take the set. They would not trail in the second, tallying 15 of the first 19.

Former Manson Northwest Webster standout Olivia Sturgis, one of a handful of returning players, had a match-high 10 kills. Natalie Hagadon added nine, fellow former Cougar Emily Goodner added eight and Araya Garrison registered four of the nine service aces for Iowa Central.

In the third, William Penn JV put some pressure on, going up 8-3 and holding a 17-15 advantage when the Tritons tallied five straight, highlighted by two aces from Garrison. They closed out the night by scoring five of the final seven points.

Anabel Seaman had 14 assists and Dani Anela Kapu 12 with Hagadon and Olivia Benson each recording 11 digs. Garrison had four total blocks and Tionn Wise added two.

This past weekend, Iowa Central went 2-2 in tournament action in Illinois, earning wins over Muskegon and No. 4 Pensacola State around setbacks to 23rd-ranked Sauk Valley and Gulf Coast State.

"We have a very demanding schedule," Horn said. "Once the season starts, things really pick up in terms of matches and quality of opponent."

The Tritons head to Sioux City on Friday to face Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Lake Region State beginning at 10 a.m.

Full article - https://www.messengernews.net/sports/local-sports/2024/08/no-7-tritons-roll-in-home-debut/