Sep 12, 2024
By: Dana Becker, The Messenger Sports Reporter
With just one match on the docket this week, Sara Horn wanted to see her Iowa Central volleyball team come out and take care of business here Wednesday night.
That's just what the eighth-ranked Tritons did, sweeping North Iowa Area inside Hodges Fieldhouse.
Scores were 25-8, 25-23 and 25-21.
Coming off a weekend in which Iowa Central (11-2 overall, 2-0 in the ICCAC) played four matches over two days, it showed no signs of exhaustion in jumping out to a commanding lead and never looking back.
"We're a pretty collected team," Horn said. "They're not really going to get rattled or as fiery as some (squads) we've had in the past, so we've just got to find that balance.
"Right now, we're just kind of a steady group."
Former Manson Northwest Webster standout Emily Goodner had a match-high 12 kills, while Talya Sampson and Brooke Lensing each added six for the Tritons. Iowa Central has now swept each of theirlpast four opponents in stringing together an 11-match win streak overall.
Horn did point out the ability by the Trojans (6-8, 1-1) to rebound and put some pressure on her squad in the second set.
NIACC led by as many as six points early and held a 17-13 advantage when Goodner started a 9-5 rally that ended it. Iowa Central tallied the final four points of the set, including the last one on a kill by Araya Garrison.
"Volleyball is a weird sport," Horn said. "You can have a set one like that and turn around and have a set two where it goes completely different. Credit NIACC because they were pretty flat in the first (set) but they didn't let that affect them.
"They came out and played with a ton of energy in the second and third sets, and they deserve all the credit for that. Our girls have just figured it out and found ways to win."
Anabel Seaman had 18 assists and Dani Anela Kapu added 14 with seven digs. Olivia Benson recorded 16 digs and three aces, Natalie Hagadon had 10 digs and four aces, and both Goodner and Garrison registered three block assists.
Olivia Sturgis, another MNW grad, added five kills and four block assists on the evening.
The Tritons are now off until Wednesday when they travel to Boone to take on Des Moines Area. They follow that up with a tournament hosted by No. 24 Madison College in Wisconsin, where they will face off against 11th-ranked Illinois Central, Black Hawk, Milwaukee Area Tech and the host school Friday and Saturday.
"It was important to get this one and keep momentum going," Horn said. "We have a tough week coming up with a lot of teams that feature big hitters."