Brinna Ehler is always a threat around the net, but she is also good in the backcourt as she proves here with this dig on one knee Tuesday, Oct. 5, against Turkey Valley in West Union. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Volleyball ties for 2nd in UIC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

When NFV volleyball travelled to Guttenberg Thursday night it was a match that both teams really needed. 

The Eagles needed it for a chance to tie for the conference title, while the TigerHawks could clinch a tie for second with a win.

When the smoke cleared, NFV got the big W in four sets. The first game was a classic as the two teams duked it out until well into overtime. Eventually, the TigerHawks lost a 28-26 battle. 

NFV had five runners earn All-Conference honors at the UIC Meet Thursday in Guttenberg. The five who finished in the top 15 in their respective races, were (l-r) Nathan Crooker, Ben Miller, Brynn Gamm, Peyton Halverson and Davan Crooker. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Boys 2nd; girls 4th at UIC XC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

“We saw our runners do some racing,” was NFV head cross country coach Neal Bentley’s commented after the Upper Iowa Conference Cross country Meet Thursday at the golf course in Guttenberg. 

The boys finished second to South Winn and the girls were fourth. In all five TigerHawks finished in the top 15 to earn All-UIC honors. Freshman Alexis Steffens just missed with a 16^th-place finish.

Trey Darnall (11) returned to full action Friday after being part-tie due to a hamstring. Here the senior blows around left end for a second-quarter score. Keeping Sailor defenders away are Kale Rodgers (51) and Jackson Blue (64). (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawks fall, 41-15

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The scoreboard said, Waterloo Columbus won, 41-15, and the stats were all in favor of the Sailors. However, as NFV head coach Justin Heins noted the next day during Coaches Corner, “Change a few plays in the first half, and it’s a different ballgame.”

  With the Sailors leading, 7-0, NFV drove inside WC’s 5. Liam McIntyre drove to the 3 and his forward motion was apparently stopped. In fact, the replay Saturday morning showed was there no forward progress for at least five full seconds and McIntyre’s knee had already hit the ground when the ball popped loose and the officials ruled a fumble with Columbus recovering.

WC’s Isabell Eitel had to use all of her speed to get to this ball to save it from scoring a point for NFV Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Maynard. Eitlel made 11 digs and had two assists against the TigerHawks; Thursday in Calmar she led the team with 11 assists. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Devil VB finishes regular season

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

West Central volleyball finished the regular season last week by splitting a pair of conference games.

The team is off this week as it prepares for postseason play next Tuesday, Oct. 22, in Winthrop as it faces East Buchanan (4-19) in a 7 p.m. contest with the winner moving on to face Wapsie Valley (18-13) in Fairbank on Monday, Oct. 28, also at 7 p.m.

The final week of the regular season started in Maynard on Tuesday, Oct. 8, against NFV.

Fans at the game saw a very competitive match with many long volleys.

South Winn freshman Allison Heying sets the ball during recent Warrior volleyball action. The team will close out the regular season this week as it takes on Postville on Thursday. (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW netters bested in pair of UIC matchups

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Warrior volleyball squad took to the court twice last week, dropping both matches against Upper Iowa Conference foes to fall to 2-23 on the season and 0-6 in conference play.

MFL/MarMac

South Winn began the week Tuesday, Oct. 8, against UIC front-runner MFL/MarMac (currently 14-11, 7-1 in UIC). The Bulldogs were able to defeat the Warriors in three consecutive sets (25-17, 25-17, and 25-18).

“Our girls played a great match, but we just couldn’t get past one rotation in each set,” said coach Glenna Munuswamy. “Our blocking and defense did a great job of slowing down a very powerful Bulldog offense.”

South Winn had six blocks, led by Sydney Becker and Kaitlyn Theis with two apiece.

Junior Madison Kriener led the team with seven

kills, while classmate Sara Biraschi had team-high five aces.

Junior receiver Cael Kuboushek stiff arms a Saint defender during Friday night’s 49-14 loss to St. Ansgar. Kuboushek, who entered the week as the second-leading receiver in all of Class A (behind only teammate Noah Tieskoetter) had four receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown. (Zakary Kriener photo)

Warriors fall to #2 St. Ansgar

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

Friday nights contest between the Class A, No. 9-ranked Warriors and the No. 2-ranked Saint Ansgar Saints featured two of the top offenses in the entire state. While the two district foes are used to putting up big numbers, their means of doing so couldn’t be more polar opposite as the Saints entered the game as the top rushing team in the state among all classes, while the Warriors brought the second-leading passing attack in the state among all classes.

Unfortunately for South Winn, only one of the offenses prevailed in the battle for the District lead and likely title. 

“This was a tough loss for our kids,” said head coach Jason Ohrt. “I felt like we had a great week of practice, but Saint Ansgar is just a tough team to prepare for. They have a special group this season.”

Saint Ansgar rushed for 479 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in the 49-14 win, while the Warriors were only able to accumulate 246 yards of offense (89 passing yards).

South Winn’s Chance Adam helped the Warrior boys to a second place finish at last week’s South Winn Invitational in Calmar as he finished 14^th in a time of 18:13.02. (submitted photo)

Warrior runners perform well at SW Invite

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The Warrior cross country program played host to the 2019 South Winn Invitational last week (Tuesday, Oct. 8) at the South Winneshiek Golf Course near Calmar and neither the boys or girls disappointed.

In a field filled with many top teams in the area, the Class 1A No. 6-ranked boys’ team placed second with 70 points behind only Class 3A No. 7-ranked Decorah (23). Crestwood (Class 2A, No. 13) finished third with 73 points.

Freshman Lexi Steffens has been a mainstay of the NFV girl’s cross country team. Shown in recent action, Steffens last outing Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Manchester saw her complete the course in 22:48, second on the team and 36^th overall. (Jerry Wadian photo)

Younger runners step up for XC

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

“After losing last week’s race at Jesup, the kids were really ready to go Tuesday (Oct. 1), at West Delaware,” stated NFV head cross country coach Neal Bentley.

With some of the varsity runners out with illnesses and nagging injures, younger runners had to step up and compete at the Hawk Cross Country Meet in Manchester.

Both the boys and girls had a pair of varsity runners sitting out this race. 

“Those kids really stepped up,” noted Bentley. “Several either set or came within a second of matching season-best times.”

NFV’s Alyssa Bohr is right there to block West Central’s Abby Squires shot attempt Tuesday, Oct. 8 in Maynard. Bohr had two solo blocks like this one and assisted on four other blocks while spiking home 11 kills; she also had 11 digs. (Jerry Wadian photo)

TigerHawk volleyball in title hunt

By Jerry Wadian
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

NFV stayed in contention for the UIC championship Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Maynard by edging West Central in a five-set thriller.

It was an important match for both teams since the TigerHawks have just one conference loss and the Devils’ came in with just two.