Keota drops SICL match to Sigourney

KEOTA — There is a new coach and a new attitude in the Keota volleyball program this season. Despite a 3-1 loss to Sigourney Monday in a South Iowa Cedar League contest, the Eagles are 5-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

The Eagles had a 6-4 record 10 matches into an 18-7 season in 2014. Since then the Eagles have a 20-100 record and have never had a .500 record 10 matches into the season during that time, the best being 2-8.

But there is a new head coach in Debra Swantz, a new assistant coach in Madison Sheetz and a new attitude with the team.

“We’re just been trying to focus on team bonding for the girls because the last number of years that has been a struggle,” Swantz said. “We have tried to do more things together as a team, like having team meals together and just make a point to have the team together, so that we can achieve more.”

After losing the first two sets 25-12, 25-11 to the Savages Monday, Swantz saw a lack of energy on the court and made a move.

“I could see that, I could feel it. So I made some changes as far as where the girls were playing, because where they were at for the first and second set, they were struggling.”

It was an immediate change. Taylor Kindred blocks tied it at 6-6 and 8-8, then she served an ace for an 11-8 lead, prompting a Sigourney timeout. Keota answered with a Madison Scott kill, a Kimberly Clarahan kill and a Makenzie Jackson ace. The Eagles had their biggest lead at 19-14, but a hammer from Amiya Smallwood set Sigourney on a run that tied the set at 21 and 22. Jackson planted consecutive aces for a 25-22 win.

“I should’ve changed it up in the second set and then maybe we would’ve been a little bit better a little quicker,” Swantz said. “I’m proud of the girls for battling the way they did. And they really rallied around each other, which I haven’t seen in past years.”

Sigourney made its own adjustments and bolted out to a 17-8 lead in the fourth set before Swantz called time. The Eagles rallied from that point, but it ended at 25-18.

The only seniors, Kindred and Jackson, were effective. Jackson provided eight aces with her bullet serves, four digs, two blocks, three assists and three kills. Kindred was a blocking machine with eight. She tallied six kills, five digs and three aces.

" (Jackson) has an amazing serve,“ Swantz said. ”When she’s on, she’s really on.“

Last season, serving was a problem, and Keota struggled behind the line, so Swantz has had the Eagles work on it, and it has improved.

“I’m really proud of the growth, and there is a lot of young talent on the way,” Swantz said. “They have all bought in to what we have tried to do this year.”

Junior Macie McDonald had seven assists. Freshmen Cassie Swantz had 18 digs, Clarahan had eight digs, four aces and a block.