EBF Rockets Dominate Newton Tournament, Claim Championship
Newton, Iowa — October 5, 2024
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (EBF) Rockets continued their stellar season with a commanding performance at the Newton Tournament, capturing the championship and improving their record to 25-2 overall and 4-0 in the South Central Conference (SCC). Currently ranked second in Class 2A, the Rockets showcased their dominance with a string of impressive victories.
In their opening match against Ottumwa, EBF was tested early, splitting the first two sets 21-19 and 14-21. However, the Rockets refused to back down, storming back in the decisive third set to win 15-7. Head Coach Gladys Genskow praised her team’s resilience, noting their ability to rebound from a tough second set. “Despite losing the second set, we didn’t let it affect our ability to come back and find ways to score,” Genskow said. “We started out strong in the third set to set the tone that we weren’t going to lose this match.”
After overcoming Ottumwa, the Rockets gained momentum and cruised through the rest of the tournament. They defeated Lynnville-Sully (21-6, 21-10), Boone (21-11, 21-11), Newton (21-9, 21-3), and Davis County (21-15, 21-18) to claim the tournament title. The win over Davis County, which was their third meeting of the season, proved to be a challenging mental test after a long day of competition.
Coach Genskow highlighted her team’s strong serving and ball control as keys to their success throughout the day. “As the day progressed, we served tough and controlled the pass, not allowing teams to score many points until meeting Davis County in our last match,” she said. “This team is tough when we play in system. With the abilities of these athletes, they find ways to win points when the game is tough.”
Individually, the Rockets were led by standout performances from several players. Molly Shafer dominated offensively, racking up 69 kills on 96/101 attacks while also contributing 11 aces, 17 digs, and 2 blocks. Her sister, Kate Shafer, was instrumental in setting up the offense with 82 assists while also adding 9 kills, 2 aces, and 29 digs. Lacey Taylor added 19 kills and led the team in serving with 15 aces, while Kaylee Helm was strong defensively with 22 digs and 17 assists.
The Rockets now look ahead to hosting Chariton on Tuesday for Senior Night at EBF. Coach Genskow expressed pride in her team’s effort and determination, stating, “I’m proud of how everyone is working together to get the victory. We will continue to improve on some details to become stronger as a team.”
Tournament Scores:
EBF vs. Ottumwa: 21-19, 14-21, 15-7
EBF vs. Lynnville-Sully: 21-6, 21-10
EBF vs. Boone: 21-11, 21-11
EBF vs. Newton: 21-9, 21-3
EBF vs. Davis County: 21-15, 21-18
Key Stats:
Molly Shafer: 96/101 attacks, 69 kills, 11 aces, 17 digs, 2 blocks
Kate Shafer: 82 assists, 9 kills, 2 aces, 29 digs
Lacey Taylor: 38/45 attacks, 19 kills, 15 aces, 25 digs
Kaylee Helm: 17 assists, 22 digs, 3 aces
Kinley Lobberecht: 24/32 serving, 3 aces, 8 digs
Chloe Lyon: 11/14 attacks, 5 kills, 3 blocks