Cardinals halt Lady Vikes’ 26-win season
TREYNOR (Oct. 22) -- The season didn’t end quite how they wanted it to, but, oh, what a season it was for the AHSTW volleyball team.
Just two years after losing 26 matches, the Lady Vikes finished 2018 with a school record 26 wins following Monday’s three-set loss to 8th-ranked Treynor (19-25, 11-25, 16-25) in a Class 2A, Region 3 quarterfinal.
According to fourth-year head coach Kelsey Muxfeldt, previous school win records were 14-11 for AHST and 19-7 for Walnut. This year’s Lady Vike squad closes shop at 26-11, continuing an upward trend following seasons of 3-22, 4-26 and 14-14 during the careers of seniors Katie Anzalone, Emma Jorgensen, Kyley Nelsen, Kate Wise and Madison Simonsen.
“That’s a testament to them and the work that they put in - and their teammates - so that’s a huge stepping stone for us,” Muxfeldt said. “It’s just a great group of girls. They’re hard-working, they work well together. It’s the best team chemistry we’ve had.”
Monday’s match was competitive for all of set one and parts of two and three.
AHSTW held four one-point leads early in the opening game but was hurt by six missed serves, which matched the final margin (25-19). The Lady Vikes held a 7-6 lead in set two before a quick series of errors turned the momentum and sparked a 19-4 finishing surge by the Cardinals. The third set looked like a blowout in the making early as Treynor scored the first seven points, but AHSTW quickly fought back within 8-6 and kept it close for a short time. The Cardinals, though, would get more big swings as the set went along and took control with a 6-0 run.
Looking toward next year, Muxfeldt says the goal now is to not plateau or take a step back as a program. The Lady Vikes’ five seniors will be missed, but they do return their kill leader (Kinsey Scheffler), dig leader (Paige Osweiler) and a promising setter in Ally Meyers to go along with several other experienced players.
Treynor 25-25-25, AHSTW 19-11-16
AHSTW Stat Leaders
Serving: 40/47 (85.1%), 0 aces -- Ally Meyers 11/11, Kinsey Scheffler 10/12. Hitting: 83/94, 29 kills, .191 kill eff. -- Katie Anzalone 20/22, 9 kills (.318 eff.); Kate Wise 19/22, 8 kills (.227); Scheffler 25/27, 7 kills (.185). Assists: 24 -- A. Meyers 14, Kyley Nelsen 8. Digs: 37 -- Paige Osweiler 10, Scheffler 6, Anzalone 4, Claire Harris 4, Emma Jorgensen 4, A. Meyers 4. Blocks: 4 -- Anzalone 2 (1s/1a).