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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Raiders win on ‘Kalon Spratt’ night
Spratt is lone senior on this year’s team
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WILLIAMSBURG — It was senior night or “Kalon Spratt” night for the Williamsburg volleyball team Tuesday night.
In their final home match of the season, the Raiders defeated Vinton-Shellsburg in four sets to get to 15 wins on the season.
Those 15 wins match the win total from the last two seasons combined.
“It’s been great trying to get everyone to work together,” Spratt said. “There’s so many new faces, but they’re all so young and talented. We’ve all worked so well together.”
As it has been for most of the season, it was a night where multiple players stepped up in each set for the Raiders.
Not having to rely on just one player has helped the Raiders greatly this season.
Three different players have over 100 kills on the season, and three more have 20 or more.
“This is the first time that we’ve had such a well-rounded hitting team, Williamsburg head coach Brittni Powell said. ”When they develop as they get older, it’s going to be lethal.“
In set one, freshman Taylor Otte led the charge with five kills total.
The score was tied at nine early, and the Raiders were able to slowly build their lead through the set, taking it 25-17.
Ava Hocker ended it with an ace on match point.
The second set was the closest of the evening.
The Vikettes started the set with a 4-0 lead after three kills — two coming from Grace Fish.
The Raiders went on a 5-0 surge after consecutive kills from Otte, Jordyn Skaggs and Clarissa Suhr.
The set went back and forth with neither team getting much separation.
After a kill from Addy Chvala, the Vikettes took the lead at 21-20.
Kills from Hocker and Otte and a few Vikettes’ miscues saw the Raiders squeak by in set two, 25-23.
The Vikettes were in control most of set three with solid defensive play and good offensive play from Josie Coots.
After being down 13-7, the Raiders rallied to tie it up at 16 all.
Back-to-back kills from Clarissa Suhr, a kill from Kylee Suhr and an Vikette error tied it up.
The Vikettes closed the match on a 9-1 run to win set three 25-17.
Miscues hurt the Raiders down the stretch.
The Suhr sisters came out strong in set four as the Raiders won by the largest margin of the night.
Clarissa had four straight kills to make the score 5-0 and had a total of seven in the match. Kylee added three more.
The Raiders’ offense was in full control the whole set and also added some nice plays defensively on blocks from Hocker and Otte.
It was an up-and-down evening overall for the Raiders, but they saved their best set for last to avoid a winner-take-all fifth set.
“I take every loss as a learning moment for them,” Powell said about set three. “If we never saw any losses going into the postseason I would not be confident.
“It’s about consistency at the end of the day,” Powell added.
The young Raiders team has made strides since the start of the season, especially in leadership.
“The biggest thing has been stepping up to be leaders,” Powell said. “Kalon has been a great leader for us, but everyone else is young, and they’ve had to step in to that role.”
A triangular Thursday against Newton and Des Moines North await the Raiders before they enter postseason play.
“This season has felt so great and refreshing coming from last year already doubling our wins.” Spratt said. “I feel so great that I’m a part of something new.”
The WaMaC tournament will be next Thursday at Marion High School.
