IMS A-teams nab wins

PARSONS — Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade A team let a pair of big leads slip away, but still had enough gas at the end to win.
The volleyball team’s 25-23, 25-22 win over Parsons illustrated the team’s perseverance, head coach Terri Carlin said.
“I was proud of the girls for working hard and not quitting and getting the win,” Carlin said. “We were up 10 or 11 points in the first set and kept making some silly mistakes. We just let them back in it. The same things happened in the second set. We kept fighting through both sets for the win. The girls never quit.”
In other action, the eighth-grade B team dropped a 25-17, 25-11 decision.
The seventh-grade A-team also was successful, winning 25-21, 25-22. Parsons won the B-team contest, 25-14, 25-14.
Several players had a hand in the eighth-grade A-team win. Katie Bauer had an ace and seven kills, Madison Carlin had eight assists and two kills, Colbi Riley had four aces and a kill, Scout Rush had two aces and Karly McGuffin had an ace and three kills.
“It takes a tough player to keep at it and work through those errors,” Carlin said.
Sophie Whitney led the B-team with six aces. Emily Mollins and Emilee Luedke added a kill each. Destiny Howard had one ace serve.
“Sophie Whitney continues to be a consistent server and leader on the floor,” Carlin said.
Coach Debby Russell credited Kylee Hunter with some good passes, praising her movement on the court and ability to get to the ball.
Russell said Luedke has improved her passing, particularly with tips at the net.

IN seventh-grade action, the Ponies started out the first set on an 8-0 run behind the serving of Jayden Jackson. The stretch included an ace, head coach Stacy Sprague said. Jackson ended up serving at an 88 percent clip.
Piper Moore and Mia Aronson were both leaders with 100 percent serving effort. Moore had two aces as well.
Kassy Shelby and Macie Martin both had two aces, while Marissa Orr and Kayla Simmons had one ace apiece.
“We still are making fundamental mistakes,” Sprague said. “Our focus is still on improving serving and passing.”