An up-and-down evening on the volleyball court gave Iola High’s Fillies a split Tuesday.
Iola started slowly against Prairie View, dropping its first set, before rebounding with authority to claim a 21-25, 25-14 and 25-13 victory.
Things didn’t go as well in the second match of the night, a straight-set, 25-19 and 25-16 loss to Anderson County.
Iola head coach Amanda Strickler-Holman pointed to “the little things” in the loss to Anderson County, including the errors that don’t show up on the stat sheet.
For example, a slightly off-kilter setup would prevent the Fillies hitters from getting the ball over the net with much authority. That, in turn, allowed Anderson County to respond with authority — typically booming kills from the outside.
“We have to work on controlling the errors that we gave them,” Stickler-Holman said. “Against a team like Anderson County, if you don’t hit it well, and give them free shots, they’re gonna slam it down your throat.”
The Fillies broke out of the gates quickly, leading 10-4 after a pair of Lauryn Holloway kills, before Anderson County began to assert its power game.
The Bulldogs put together a 13-3 run to take control, ending with seven straight points to lead 17-13.
“It was the little things,” Strickler-Holman said. “If we wouldn’t have let them run off seven, that’s a whole new game.”
A Jenna Curry ace pulled Iola within 19-17 before the Bulldogs ended the set with a 6-2 run.
Anderson County kept up the pressure in the finale, racing to an 11-4 lead.
The Fillies clawed back into the match with a 10-4 run of their own. Curry’s kill pulled Iola within 15-14.
The Bulldogs turned once again to their power, ending the set and match with a 10-3 run.
Becca Sprague led Iola with seven kills, while Curry had four kills, was 7-of-7 in digs and had two aces. Chloe Sell led with eight assists, while Holloway had two aces.
AN EARLY hiccup against Prairie View put Iola behind the 8-ball in its opener.
“A very ugly start,” Strickler-Holman called it as Prairie View put together six- and seven-point runs to lead 19-12.
