Warriors bring ‘strong team effort’ into postseason

By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register

In its final regular season game, the Central volleyball team faced a challenging match-up against the North Fayette Valley TigerHawks. 

The Warriors got off to a slow start, losing the first set 25-10, but bounced back in the second set, narrowly missing a victory with a 26-24 loss. The Warriors put in a commendable effort in the third set, but fell short, 25-14, and lost the series 3-0. 

“Despite the loss, the team’s determination and improvement throughout the match were evident, highlighting their perseverance against a strong opponent,” said coach Kelly Erickson.

Despite the loss, the Warriors achieved Erickson’s serving goal of 90 percent. Alivia Wiley led the way, going a perfect 12 for 12 with an ace. Brylee Erickson went nine for 10 with an ace, while Tori Sylvester hit six of six with an ace. Katie Royer was eight for 11 with an ace, and Reese Berns was a perfect seven for seven. 

“Their consistent serving helped keep the team competitive throughout the match,” Erickson said.

On offense, Tori Sylvester, Berns and Wiley each contributed four kills, while Royer added three kills and led the team with 12 assists. Oakley Armstrong and Erickson earned one kill each. 

Defensively, Erickson led the team with 12 digs, followed by Tori Sylvester and Wiley with seven digs each. Tori Sylvester also had one block. Royer had six digs and Armstrong and Berns tallied five apiece. 

“Overall, it was a solid team effort, showcasing contributions from multiple players in both offensive and defensive roles,” Erickson said.

The Warriors ended the regular season at 4-4 in Upper Iowa Conference play and 11-18 overall. The first round of the postseason started Oct. 21, against the Riceville Wildcats.

According to Erickson, the Warriors were “aiming to bring their strong team effort and focused preparation into the postseason match-up.”