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English Valleys defeats Hillcrest; ends season at Don Bosco
By Matt Bryant, Hometown Current
Oct. 23, 2023 8:25 am
NORTH ENGLISH — The English Valleys volleyball girls wrapped up its season with a second round, post season exit at the hands of Don Bosco. However, they had to get through Hillcrest Academy in round one first.
Hillcrest (10-14) visited North English for the Monday, Oct. 16, match. Led by Kennedy Axmear’s seven kills and four blocks, Libby Armstrong’s 15 assists, Imigyn Stratton’s 31 digs and Delaney Hall’s four aces, the Bears knocked out the Ravens in straight sets, 25-15, 25-21, 25-16.
The win advanced the Bears to round two against the Don Bosco Dons in Gilbertville Wednesday, Oct. 18. The Dons proved to be too much for EV, winning in three sets, 25-9, 25-11, 25-4, to end the Bears’ postseason run and its season.
The Bears accomplished many goals and received many accolades through the 2023 season, all of which can be summed up best by English Valleys Coach Bob Barrick.
“The English Valleys Bears volleyball team finished the season with their best record in nearly 30 years,” Barrick said. “They were sixth in the SICL tournament, also a team best.
“Along the way, several athletes earned their way to high or top ratings in the school record books,” Barrick said.
“Delaney Hall earned school records for her serving and setting prowess. The single season serving record is now 98.1%, putting her third in the state (all classes) and second in class 1A.
“She is fourth on the career serving list, at 95.9%, making 1015 of 1058 serves. The next highest (Jill Provin) made 590 serves in her career with the record of 96.9%,” said Barrick.
“Hall leads the Bears for setters in a 6-2 offense with 636 career assists. Her teammate Libby Armstrong is second on that list with 571.
“Combined, these athletes recorded more assists in a career than any other 5-1 or pair of 6-2 setters,” the coach said. “Hall also has the single season assist record at 295.
“Kennedy Axmear added enough kills from the record assists to put her first on the career kills list with 431. Imigyn Stratton became 2nd on the single season kills list with 195 this season,” Barrick said.
“Axmear also moved up to second on the all-time list with 184 total blocks behind only Audrey Grove with 196. ‘
“Axmear is also the leader on the single season blocks records with 77 blocks in 2021.”
Three players earned All-South Iowa Cedar League honors, said Barrick. Axmear earned a spot on the second team; Hall and Stratton were honorable mentions.
“When grades come out Monday, several of the girls will receive Academic All-State honors,” Barrick said.
“Seniors in the record books, along with Hannah Grimm and Ada Mews, provided outstanding leadership this year. They were always first to see what needed to be done and get it done,” said Barrick.
“If something went wrong during competition, they adjusted without blame or needing a timeout. Their example of teamwork and fighting through adversity should get future teams off to a good start,” Barrick said.
For the season, the Bears recorded 632 assists, 694 kills, 2,687 kill attempts, 1,549 digs, 1,493 successful serves and 1,685 serve attempts.