Mid-Prairie volleyball survives Tipton

WELLMAN — The Mid-Prairie volleyball team had previously defeated Tipton, Monday’s opponent in a Class 3A quarterfinal postseason match.

The second win did not come as easy for Mid-Prairie, which upped its record to 16-13. Tipton’s season ends at 9-24.

Mid-Prairie had even won, 3-1, on Tipton’s court, so the Golden Hawks were surely confident. They should not have even let the one set get away as it was a 25-18, 24-26, 25-11, 25-11 score Sept., 30. That 25-11 score would come in handy Monday.

More confidence in the fact that Ella Groenewold in fourth in Class 3A with 94 blocks and Dakota Mitchell is third with 58 aces.

The confidence may have waned after the visiting Tigers won the first match 25-22. Mid-Prairie responded with a 25-21 set win but again lost. When the third set ended it was the same score as the first set.

Mid-Prairie responded with the set they knew they could play. The Golden Hawks hammered the Tigers 25-11 to set up the tiebreaker. Mid-Prairie escaped 15-12.

Mid-Prairie, which has won more matches in a season than lost for the first time since 2008 (according to Varsity Bound) now faces No. 4-ranked West Liberty Wednesday. The Comets who have a 35-4 record, defeated Washington 3-0.