Indees edge Cardinals, fall to Lancers

The Independence/Gilmanton volleyball team had two convincing wins before taking a close fourth set to beat Eleva-Strum on the road last week Tuesday.

The Indees won the first set by eight and the third by seven before finishing the match with a 26-24 win for its first Dairyland Conference victory of the season. On Thursday, however, the team struggled against perhaps the conference’s top team, losing to Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 3-0 on the road.

I/G began this week with an overall record of 2-10 and 1-2 in Dairyland Conference play. They were set to play in Whitehall on Tuesday of this week before playing Cochrane-Fountain City in Independence on Thursday. The team will play Augusta in Gilmanton next Tuesday.

I/G   25 21 25 26

E-S  17 25 18 24

After the Cardinals evened the match, the Indees won two sets to get the win.

I/G controlled the first set with an eight-point win, but E-S rebounded to tie the match. The Indees were back in control to take a 2-1 lead before holding on for a two-point win to take the match, 3-1.

The Indees had a balanced attack at the net as Makiyah Scow had 11 kills, two more than Nora Schank while Arabelle Kniseley had seven. Hannah Ekern spread the ball out for 27 set assists. 

Schank had team-highs with four service aces and 30 digs. The team was active defensively as Danika Ekern added 20 digs and Kniseley finished with 17. 

I/G    13 22 13

ECIL 25 25 25

The Lancers showed why they’re considered among the favorites to win the conference title this year. 

Hannah Ekern was active for the Indees, leading the way with six kills and five assists, while adding eight digs. No other I/G player had more than three kills. Kniseley had a team-high 12 digs.