Indees sweep Thunder, fall to Mustangs

The Independence/Gilmanton volleyball team was on a roll through four sets last week.

The Indees dispatched Osseo-Fairchild in three sets last week Tuesday then won the first set against Melrose-Mindoro by double digits on Thursday. The Mustangs fought back, however, and won the match 3-2. 

I/G concluded the regular season with a 7-18 overall record and a 5-5 mark in Dairyland Conference play. The team received a home match to open Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association play as it took on Alma Center Lincoln on Tuesday. The Indees are the sixth seed, the Hornets the 11th and the winner will take on third-seeded Neillsville on Thursday. The regional final match is set for Saturday. 

I/G   25 25 25

O-F  15 10 22

The third set was close, but the Indees held on for the sweep.

I/G was balanced at the net as Makiyah Scow had nine kills and Shauna Dejno was second on the team with eight. The team was sharp on the service line with 13 aces, six by Danika Ekern while Nora Schank, Scow and Hannah Ekern all had two. Hannah Ekern had 20 set assists. 

Danika Ekern also led the team with 13 digs.

M-M   11 25 26 26 15

I/G      25 19 24 28 11

The first set was all I/G, but the rest of the match was a battle as the Mustangs came away with the road win.

The Indees cruised with a 14-point win to begin the match, but the Mustangs won the next two sets. I/G battled for a 28-26 win in the fourth set, but Mel-Min closed with a 15-11 win to take the match.

Shauna Dejno led I/G at the net with 11 kills while Hadley Sylla, Schank and Scow all had eight and Arabelle Kniseley finished with six. Hannah Ekern had 33 set assists. 

I/G had five aces with five different players getting one. The team was active defensively as Schank had 36 digs while Danika Ekern finished with 29, Kniseley had 22 and both Ava Williams and Scow had 10.