OTTAWA — Playing against and watching some of the better volleyball teams in Class 4A, 5A and 6A, Iola High’s Fillies learned a lot despite losing all five matches they played Saturday.
“We knew going into the tournament we’d be seeing some very tough competition but it was good for us to play in this tournament,” said Jodi Grover, Iola High head coach.
“We learned and saw a lot of great volleyball Saturday. We know what we have to work on this week to get better.”
The Fillies took on two powerhouse teams in pool play of the 2010 Ottawa High Invitational. They opened against Class 6 A fifth-rank Blue Valley West losing 25-9, 25-14.
Next up was Lansing, third-ranked in Class 5A, and Iola lost 25-9, 25-2.
“When we played a team comparable to us, we executed better. It wasn’t as crisp as we wanted but it was a good match,” Grover said of the three-game match against Olathe North.
Olathe North won 25-15, 17-25, 25-21. Grover said Kendra Taiclet served nine points straight to get Iola back in the third set from down 20-11.
“We changed things up going into the tournament. Kirstin McGuffin played libero for us. Celeste Ambrose and Kelsey Adams worked well on the front row,” Grover said.
“Our passing wasn’t up where we needed it but we executed OK against Olathe North. The new rotation worked for us.”
Iola was reseeded coming out of pool play going into the Bronze Division bracket. The Fillies faced Olathe North again losing 25-14, 25-18 then lost 25-21, 25-15 to Shawnee Mission West.
Kelsey Larson put down 13 kills and had 25 set assists for the Fillies. Toni Taylor had 13 set assists and eight kills.
Riana Dolenz led the net attack with nine kills, three solo blocks and two assisted blocks. Ambrose had nine kills, one solo block and one assisted block.
Taiclet delivered eight kills and put up three blocks at the net plus had nine digs. Adams had three kills and two assisted blocks.
McGuffin was credited with 15 digs. Keli Lee had six digs.
Iola is 6-16 overall. On Thursday, the Fillies host Labette County and Coffeyville in Southeast Kansas League play. The Fillies are 1-3 in league action.
Fillies lose and learn at Ottawa tournament
