Lady Cougars Pick up Two Wins

By Clare Wiltse, Sports Contributor

The Lady Cougars picked up two wins last  week to raise their season mark to 5-10.  They played three games on the home court and defeated Scribner Snyder and Winnebago while dropping a three set match to Emerson-Hubbard.

Twelve matches into the season the Cougars faced their first Class D opponent.  Northeast had a three set win against (2-13)Scribner-Snyder in their EHC match.  LDNE opened with a 25-11 win and followed with a 25-12 game.  The Trojans proved peskier the third set with Northeast on top 25-20.

After stumbling early in the first set the Cougars used three kills by Kelly Wakeley and a successful serving stint by Sophia Henneman to take an 8-3 lead.  They never looked back and Henneman’s second service term brought the team to set point with four service points with the help of kills by Madie Ronnfeldt.  A service error by S-S gave them game one.

Northeast trailed in set two until Wakeley tied the game a 6-6 with an ace serve. Madie R finished off the Trojan with seven service points  She had an ace and Wakeley and Collins had kills. LDNE had a nine point lead that stood up and the win came on an ace by Mickayla Petersen.

The Cougars could not break the Trojans in the third game.  S-S hung around and turned a three point deficit into a three point lead as they served six straight points.  Mickayla Petersen countered with six points of her own  as Madie Ronnfeldt had a block and kill.  Ronnfeldt finished the match with a set winning kill.

It was a break out night for the middle hitters.  Madie Ronnfeldt and Tessie Collins had   career highs as they recorded 9 and 8 kills respectively.

Coach Hathaway explained , “We have been working with our middles with their transitioning and I think it paid off during the game. To become a more well rounded team we need our middles to be big hitters. We are making improvements that will lead us to that. Tessie and Madie are both developing a confidence in themselves to be the players that make the big plays for their teammates. ”

25-11  LDNE
25-12  LDNE
25-20  LDNE

Abby Peterson  11 digs
Brianne Haskell  1 ace   7 kills  11 digs
Kelly Wakeley    1 ace   10 kills  15 digs
Lexie Bacon   23 set  assists   8 digs
Libby Henneman    1 ace
Madie Ronnfeldt   3 aces  9 kills   3 blocks  5 digs
Mickayla Petersen  3 aces  1 kill  2 blocks   11 digs
Sophia Henneman   2 aces   4 digs
Tessie Collins   8 kills   1 block  2  digs

In the Thursday Triangular meet, Northeast came out with  strong performance against the Number two team in D-1.  They handed (11-1)Emerson-Hubbard a 25-11 defeat in game one.  The Pirates would take the next two game by identical 25-21 scores.

When asked how they could defeat such a high rated team in game one, Coach Hathaway replied,  “Honestly, our girls played clean and controlled ball that first set against the Pirates. Our passing set us up consistently to make a play on all free balls, attacks, and serve receive. Our passing was not quite as consistent against them in the 2nd and 3rd set which is what we would have needed to win that game. ”

25-11  LDNE
25-21  E-H
25-21  E-H

Abby Peterson  11 digs
Brianne Haskell    10 kills  16 digs
Kelly Wakeley     7 kills  20 digs
Lexie Bacon  2 aces   9 set  assists   9 digs
Madie Ronnfeldt   1 ace  4 kills   2 blocks  2 digs
Mickayla Petersen  1 ace  3 kill  2 blocks   6 digs  12 set  assists
Tessie Collins   4 kills   3 blocks  1 dig  2 set assists

The Cougars finished the night with a 2-0 win over (5-10) Winnebago.  The Indians went down to defeat by scores of 25-8 and 25-16.  The Cougars served up nine aces had had 15 kills.

After a thrilling match against E-H,  Northeast controlled the tempo for the easy win.  Hathaway commented,  “The Winnebago game showed us how to stay consistent and continue to play our game no matter who we are playing. Winnebago is a good team and they have showed that in their wins this season. The girls are ready for their matches at Wisner and it will be exciting to watch them take on Madison and Howells-Dodge.”

25-8     LDNE
25-16   LDNE

Abby Peterson  2 digs
Brandi Simonsen  1 dig
Brianne Haskell  1 ace   3 kills  7 digs
Kelly Wakeley    4 ace   4 kills  3 digs
Lexie Bacon   12 set  assists   2 digs  1 kill
Libby Henneman    1 ace  2 digs
Madie Ronnfeldt   1 ace  4 kills   1 block  1 dig
Mickayla Petersen   3 digs
Sophia Henneman   1 ace   3 digs
Tessie Collins   2 kills