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WMU slips past Pekin
Wolves hold home court in Class 1A Region 2 opener
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WINFIELD - The final two sets of Tuesday night’s Class 1A Region 2 opening game were battles to the bitter end.
After splitting the opening games, Winfield-Mt. Union managed to escape in each to move on in four sets, knocking off Pekin 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 25-22.
“We have a lot of seniors right now, and it was them realizing that anything could be the end,” said WMU head coach Ashlei Venghaus. “They pulled together. We started to get frustrated early on, but we just reminded each other we’re all on the same team, and we’ve got to work together to make it happen.”
After the Wolves scrapped to a victory in Set 1, Pekin controlled the second and stole a lot of the momentum heading into an all important third.
“We definitely just went out there and worked as a team and pushed together,” said senior Kaelyn Townsley. “And we just tried to push through every single point, even if it wasn’t on our side.”
The Wolves jumped right out to a huge lead in the third set. WMU led 10-1 at one point and seemed to be en route to a blowout of their own, but the Panthers scrapped all the way back to tie it at 16-16.
The Wolves, however, didn’t let the Panthers get back ahead, thanks in part to a three-ace set by Jayda Nichols, which helped WMU win by three, and get inch one step away from a postseason victory.
Pekin led much of the fourth set, but the Wolves roared back to within one point, at 22-21. WMU tied the game, then took the lead when Quin Smith saved the ball and sent it into the corner of the Pekin side of the court.
“Just seeing stuff like that really helps get the team up,” said Smith. “Every little point counts.”
The Wolves closed it out with two more points and celebrated a victory on their home floor.
Katie Miller and Kaelyn Townsley co-led the Wolves with six kills on the night. Smith had five kills, and Madisen Kellogg finished with 17 assists.
Miller’s 21 digs led the way as well. Nichols finished with 19 and six service aces, and Aubrey Valencia had 18 digs.
WMU (17-10) plays top-seeded Holy Trinity Catholic (34-6) on the road on Wednesday night. That game will be over before presstime.
Pekin finished the year 12-15. It was the last game for the Panther seniors, which included third-leading hitter Katelynn Schultz and leading defender Payten Coleman.
