Panthers hear inspirational message at Hayfield, sweep JWP 3-0 at home
By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
It could not have been a better homecoming week for the NRHEG High School volleyball team.
The Panthers played well and won twice, outlasting Hayfield 3-1 on the Vikings' court Tuesday, and shutting out JWP 3-0 at New Richland two nights later.
NRHEG dispatched Hayfield 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22 on what coach Ashley Tolzman called a very special night.
"Hayfield was having a Mental Health Awareness Week," said Tolzman. "Both NRHEG and Hayfield warmed up in the same mental health shirts and listened to a great speaker with a great message. Hayfield's team also wrote each and every player a kind note and left it on our bench before we started our game. I think this was such a positive experience and am thankful we were able to be part of this. Thank you Coach Kruger!"
The Panthers got the job done on the court.
"We kept the games close," said Tolzman. We weren't as aggressively as I know we can be, but we were still able to place tips and pushes and find success."
Individual statistics for NRHEG: Gabby Schlaak 6 kills, 5 blocks, 12 digs; Izzy Stadheim 5 digs; Elsie Schultz 10 digs; Ary Howe 1 dig; Tayler Schmidt 7 kills, 6 blocks, 17 digs; Hallie Schultz, 32 set assists, 3 kills, 1 block, 8 digs; Keira Lenort 5 kills, 2 blocks, 1 dig; Madi Murray 8 kills, 9 blocks, 6 digs; Chloe Stork 4 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs; Faith Nielsen 1 assist, 1 kill, 20 digs.
Tolzman said she looked forward to hosting JWP, whom the Panthers dispatched 25-11, 25-12, 25-21 on Senior Night.
"We came ready to play," said Tolzman. "Senior Night was a success. We covered our court, set our blocks, and kept swinging. We were able to get all of our seniors on the court. We were positive and excited to play all night. It was great to see. This was a big week for us, 2-0 during our homecoming week."
Individually: Schlaak 5 kills, 2 digs; Stadheim 4 digs; E.Schultz 4 digs; Schmidt 4 kills, 1 block, 5 digs; H.Schultz 25 assists, 1 kill, 5 blocks, 17 digs; Erin Peterson 1 dig; Lenort 4 kills, 5 blocks; Murray 11 kills, 10 blocks; Stork 3 kills, 6 blocks, 2 digs; Sydney Lewer 1 block, 1 dig; Neilsen 11 digs.
After playing Monday at Bethlehem Academy and Tuesday at Kenyon-Wanamingo, the Panthers are in Mapleton Oct. 12 to face Maple River. They play at Nicollet Oct. 16 and end the regular season Oct. 17 at home against Randolph.