Wolfpack Volleyball still hunting for first win

MILTON-FREEWATER–Dayton-Waitsburg Wolfpack Volleyball suffered a devastating first-set loss against the Mac-Hi Lady Pioneers, but then they bounced back to win the second set with a strong performance, although they eventually dropped the match.

DW is 0-5 on the season, 0-3 in EWAC league play.

The Lady Wolfpack traveled to Warden last Tuesday (complete results next week) and face Tri-Cities Prep Thursday night in Dayton. On Saturday, October 2, they host Mac-Hi on the Dayton court for the reciprocal match. In their next game, Monday, October 11, match venue switches to Waitsburg for the second half of the season. They play River View at 6:30 p.m.

At Mac-Hi, the Wolfpack’s passing game was a struggle, according to Head Coach Tracy Barron, but the team’s play at the net “was amazing,” she said. “This team has come so far with their hitting and blocking. It is really fun to see the progress.”

Set scores were 2-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-25 with Megan Forney pacing the net play with five kills, plus the single ace serve to her credit.

Emily Rodrick nailed six aces, put up 11 assists and pounded three kills. Peyton Struckmeier also nailed three kills, rejected one Lady Pioneer kill at the net and made one dig.

Makenna Barron had an ace, three blocks, two digs and one kill.

At a match versus Columbia High School on September 21, the pattern was the same: a first-set loss followed by a win but then faltering play that ended with a 1-3 set score.

“This team is improving every time they step on the court,” Coach Barron commented. “As a coach, you can’t ask for anything more.”

Set scores were 18-25, 25-13, 8-25, 18-25.

Forney, Barron and Claudia Benavides stood out for the Lady Wolfpack. Forney hit three ace serves, made two kills and seven digs. Barron had four aces up her serving sleeve, five blocks at the net, 15 digs, two kills and an assist. Benavides had a pair of aces, 10 digs, two kills and an assist.