It was the most challenging opposition of the volleyball season for the Spring Grove girls (8-3, 5-1 SEC) who went on the road twice to face state-ranked No. 4 and SEC East leader Mabel-Canton on Sept. 20 and two nights later to take on SEC West Division leader Grand Meadow. The Lions did fall to the Cougars, 3-0, but achieved their most prestigious win to date with the 3-0 decision over the Superlarks.
Mabel-Canton 3, Spring Grove 0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-19)
The Lions matched exactly the Cougars’ 4 blocks and 8 ace serves. But Mabel-Canton was 13 kills better at the net, 39 to 26. While the Cougs (12-1, 7-0 SEC) hit with 19% efficiency, the Lions managed only 3% with 26 kills and almost-as-many 23 misfires. Lydia Solum was the lone Lion hitter with more kills (9) than hitting errors (1) for 50% efficiency. Maggie Lile defended with 24 digs and served 12 for 13 with a team-high 3 aces. Rachel Normann had 18 of the 22 Lion assists while serving 6 for 6 with 2 aces. Sydney Holland and Addyson McHugh each served 10 for 10 with an ace. Spring Grove served a strong 94% (51 for 54) with 7 aces and only 3 wayward serves.
In set one, Mabel-Canton took an early eight-point lead, 9-1, which the) home team sustained during a 10-point win (25-15). The Lions got off to a better start in set two, leading 6-5 before the Cougars took seven of the next nine points and went on to win by six (25-19). It was another six-point decision in set three after the Lions had trailed by as many as 11 points.
Spring Grove 3, Grand Meadow 0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-18)
It was a quality win over a team with a winning record. West Division frontrunner Grand Meadow slipped to 8-5 (6-2 SEC). Set one was tied 11 times, each team with 11 kills. Spring Grove scored the final four points to win by three, 25-22. In set two, it was the same 25-22 final score but a different script with SG trailing early before sweeping nine straight points to go up 19-13. The Lions maintained slim leads throughout set three (25-18) until scoring the final four points with two service aces by Lile, a kill from McHugh and a block by Solum.
Solum was the most efficient hitter (31%) with 5 kills and no errors while McHugh had 13 kills, Gerard 12 and Brielle Neeley 7. Normann had 33 of the 37 Lion assists. Lile had 22 digs while Normann made 16 saves along with 13 digs from Danika Holty and 12 from McHugh.
With 15% hitting efficiency, Spring Grove had 42 kills to 28 for the home team (10%). The Superlarks did not fare well while serving 87% – 3 aces, 8 misfires. The Lions served 93% but with only one more ace (6) than errors (5).
It was the seventh straight win for the Lion girls against the Superlarks. Spring Grove now leads all-time, 33-18 3.
Match Totals vs. Mabel-Canton
Earned Points:
SG 37 (26K, 4B, 7A); MC 50 (39K, 4B, 7A
Total Errors: SG 29, MC 20
Attacks: SG 112, MC 127
Kills/Errors: SG 26/23, MC 39/15
Hitting Efficiency: SG 3%, MC 19%
Ace Blocks: SG 4, MC 4
Serving: SG 94% (51-54), MC 93% (69-74)
Aces/Errors: SG 7/3, MC 7/5
Digs: SG 67, MC 61
>>Lion INDIVIDUALS
Digs 76: Maggie Lile 22, Rachel Normann 16, Danika Holty 13, Addyson McHugh 12, Lydia Solum 5, Kenadee Gerard 4, McKenzie Fisch 4
Assists 37: Rachel Normann 33, Maggie Lile 3, Addyson McHugh 1
Kills 42: Addyson McHugh 13, Kenadee Gerard 12, Brielle Neeley 7, Lydia Solum 5, Rachel Normann 3, Maggie Lile 2
Hitting efficiency (K-E/att) leaders: Lydia Solum 31% (5-0/16); Brielle Neeley 29% (7-3/14); Kenadee Gerard 20% (12-5/35); Addyson McHugh 12% (13-8/43)
Ace Blocks 2: Lydia Solum 1.5 (1 solo, 1 assist); Kenadee Gerard 0.5 (1 assist)
Service Aces 6: Maggie Lile 4, Lydia Solum 1, Addyson McHugh 1
Serving leaders: Lydia Solum 100% (23-23); Kenadee Gerard 100% (13-13); Addyson McHugh 100% (12-12); Kendal Van Minsel 100% (3-3); Maggie Lile 91% (10-11); Danika Holty 89% (8-9
Scoring 50: Addyson McHugh 14.0 (13K, 1A); Kenadee Gerard 12.5 (12K, 0.5B); Lydia Solum 7.5 (5K, 1.5 B, 1A); Brielle Neeley 7.0 (7K); Maggie Lile 6.0 (2K, 4A); Rachel Normann 3.0 (3K)
Spring Grove Volleyball 2021 (8-3 , 5-1 SEC)
W vs. Southland 3-0
W at Lyle/Pacelli 3-0
W at Schaeffer Academy 3-0
Thur. Sept. 9 Lanesboro, postponed until Oct. 11
Tues. Sept. 14 at Houston, postponed
W vs. Glenville-Emmons 3-0
at Waukon Tournament
W vs. Central Elkader 2-0
W vs. Postville 2-0
L vs. Waukon 0-2
W vs. Crestwood 2-0
L vs. Waukon 10-2
L at Mabel-Canton 0-3
W at Grand Meadow 3-0
Sat. Sept. 25 at Dassel-Cokato Tournament 8 a. m.
Thur. Sept. 30 Schaeffer Academy
Tues. Oct. 5 at Lanesboro
Thur. Oct. 7 Kingsland
Tues. Oct. 12 Houston
Thur. Oct. 14 Mabel-Canton
Sat. Oct. 16 at Goodhue Tournament 9 a.m.
Mon. Oct. 18 at LeRoy-Ostrander