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Grinnell edges Raiders in five sets
Down 2-0, Williamsburg forces fifth set
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WILLIAMSBURG — You can’t say they didn’t go down without a fight.
Trailing two sets to none, Williamsburg forced a fifth set in a WaMaC West volleyball match against Grinnell Tuesday.
The effort ultimately fell short — by two points.
The Raiders did not have their best stuff on the evening, playing inconsistent with miscues.
“It’s a mental game, we have the skill and we have what it takes,” coach Brittni Powell said. “When we’re off, we freak out and the dynamics can be hard to navigate.”
Even with that, the Raiders remained competitive, with four sets going over their usual set points.
A Jordyn Skaggs kill in set one gave the Raiders a 25-24 lead on set point, but the Tigers closed with three straight point for the 27-25 win.
That momentum carried into set two, where the Tigers rolled to a 25-13 win.
Kendra Nolton had a set-high eight kills in the set, leading the Tigers’ attack on the night with an impressive 25 kills.
After some key defensive blocks, Williamsburg led 22-15 in set three.
Grinnell stormed back to tie things at 25.
Clarissa Suhr and Skaggs, on set point, each had kills late as the Raiders remained alive with a 29-27 set win.
In set four, it was Williamsburg who trailed, 22-15, and had to rally back.
The Raiders closed the set scoring six unanswered to take the set 26-24.
Kylee Suhr had four kills and Averi Nielsen added three for the Raiders in the set.
Grinnell jumped to a quick 8-2 lead in the final set, and would hold on for the 16-14 victory.
Williamsburg (16-8) gets off a week off before its next match, with a light schedule heading into the conference tournament Oct. 16.
“I think it’ll be good for us, it’ll give us a chance to forget and go,” Powell said on the lighter schedule.
The Raiders have shown what they are capable of. It’s now a matter of building off what is done in practice and being consistent in match play.
At their peak, the Raiders have shown the potential to be a top 15 team in Class 3A.
