By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The first road trip of the season, to Dodge Center, was a long one for the NRHEG High School volleyball team.
It became even longer when the Triton Cobras won two of the first three games, forcing the Panthers to rally to claim a 3-2 victory Thursday, Sept. 7. The final tally in favor of NRHEG was 25-14, 24-26, 16-25, 25-22 and, in the deciding game, 15-10.
"We came out strong in our first game and played well," said Panthers coach Ashley Tolzman. "Our second game is where our passing started to pull behind the 10-foot line and lessened our ability to attack. The third game proved to be a mental game. We really got in our heads. Triton was scrappy and able to pick up everything we were sending over the net."
The final two games were different.
“Our fourth and fifth game we came out fighting again, pushing our passing where it needed to be so we could be on the offense again," said Tolzman.
Individually for the Panthers: Gabby Schlaak 12 kills, 2 blocks, 25 digs; Camryn VanMaldeghem 6 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs; Izzy Stadheim 1 assist, 4 digs; Elsie Schultz 2 digs; Ary Howe 1 dig; Tayler Schmidt 14 kills, 2 blocks, 18 digs; Hallie Schultz 35 assists, 7 blocks, 25 digs; Keira Lenort 5 kills, 8 blocks, 1 dig; Madi Murray 4 kills, 7 blocks, 1 dig; Faith Nielsen 3 assists, 34 digs.
Two nights earlier, the Panthers defeated Martin Luther/Granada- Huntley-East Chain/Truman 3-1 in New Richland. Game scores were 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22.
"This match was a roller coaster," said Tolzman. "We had some really great plays and saw some really great swings. We also had several mistakes and gave up points. Overall, it was a good competitive match."
Individually: Schlaak 12 kills, 3 blocks, 18 digs;
VanMaldeghem 8 kills, 4 blocks, 4 digs; I.Stadheim 1 assist, 1 dig; E.Schultz 1 kill, 6 digs; Schmidt 1 assist, 8 kills, 11 digs; H.Schultz 31 assists, 4 kills, 1 block, 15 digs; Lenort 2 kills, 2 blocks, 1 dig;
Murray 4 kills, 3 blocks, 1 dig; Chloe Stork 1 block, 2 digs; Neilsen 3 assists, 14 digs.
The Panthers, 2-1, play Thursday, Sept. 14 at WEM and Sept. 19 at home against Medford. They play in the USC Invitational Sept. 23.