Wins keep coming for Wildcat volleyball team

by Diane Stamm

Grant tribune-sentinel

The Wallace volleyball team won its fifth-straight match last week and improved to 11-2 on the season.

The week opened with home sweeps of Sutherland and Mullen.

Wallace controlled its entire match against Mullen, winning 25-5, 25-7, and giving Head Coach Krystal Sauser to clear her bench and get 12 players in the game.

The Wildcats continued to dominate, taking their match against Sutherland 25-11, 25-16.

Sauser said it has been exciting to watch this group of girls grow each game and find the confidence they have needed to continue to be successful. 

Kendyl Flaming had nine aces in the two matches. As a team, Wallace had 10 aces against Mullen and nine against Sutherland.

South Platte

Friday’s game at South Platte (6-8) was a different story. The Wildcats needed five sets to claim the win.

Wallace had first serve and never trailed in set one. The Wildcats maintained a consistent four-point lead in the 25-21 win.

South Platte turned the table on Wallace in the second set. Wallace jumped out to a 10-5 lead only to see the Knights tie the match at 12 and take the lead. After a tie at 16, the Wildcats lost the set 21-25.

Wallace regained control with a 25-20 win in the third set. The Wildcats trailed 9-15, but used a seven-point run, helped along by two aces from Skyler Kuhlman, to take a 22-18 lead. 

Once more South Platte battled back. Kuhlman fired off three aces in a row to give Wallace a 13-7 advantage. After a tie at 17, South Platte jumped ahead by five points and handed the Wildcats a 19-25 loss.

Wallace trailed 1-4 in the fifth set before Flaming led the Wildcats on a eight-point run from the service line. Flaming had three aces in a row to give Wallace a 10-4 lead. Wallace won the set 15-9.

Sauser complimented Karlie Finley for her outstanding game leading the team to the win over a tough South Platte team. 

“Karlie’s leadership throughout the game was a huge part the win,” Sauser said.

Finley finished the game with 20 kills. Kuhlman had seven aces and Flaming five.

Up next

The Wildcats have a competitive week, which started at the Paxton Tournament Tuesday. Besides the Tigers (12-1), Potter-Dix (11-0) and Wauneta-Palisade (4-8) were there.

The Brady Invite will be Saturday. Besides Brady (5-7), also at the tournament will be Anselmo-Merna is 6-4, Maxwell (1-13), Sandhills Valley (4-6); Cody-Kilgore (4-7) and Twin Loup (8-5).

Next Tuesday Wallace will host another triangular. Brady and Maywood/Hayes Center (12-0) will be there.