EBF Volleyball Claims Victory at West Branch Tournament
West Branch, IA – The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (EBF) Rockets kicked off their tournament season in spectacular fashion, winning the West Branch Tournament on August 31st, 2024. EBF faced tough competition throughout the day but emerged victorious, showcasing their strong offense and aggressive serving.
In pool play, EBF first squared off against Marion, winning convincingly with scores of 21-13 and 21-12. They then faced Regina in a three-set battle, narrowly dropping the first set 17-21, but bouncing back to take the next two sets 21-14 and 15-8. The Rockets continued their momentum against Muscatine, securing a 21-16, 21-14 victory.
The semi-finals saw EBF up against Davenport North, where they won in straight sets, 25-17 and 25-19, earning their place in the finals. In the final match of the day, EBF faced Marion once again, this time for the championship. The Rockets dominated the court, winning the match 25-18 and 25-14, claiming the tournament title.
Head coach Gladys Genskow praised the team’s performance, highlighting the significance of this victory. “Great start to this season’s tournaments,” Genskow said. “The team was ready to compete against tough teams and was successful. Winning this tournament was a huge start to our season. We lost every match last year at this tournament in pool play and came back to win the consolation bracket, but this year we wanted to change that around, and we did.”
The Rockets’ offense was led by Molly Shafer, who tallied an impressive 78 kills on 109 attacks, along with 39 digs and 5 blocks. Kate Shafer added 13 kills and a team-high 85 assists, while Lacey Taylor contributed 23 kills and 16 digs. The team also benefited from strong serving, with Kaylee Helm leading with 49 serves, including 3 aces, and 30 digs.
Genskow emphasized the importance of learning and adapting throughout the tournament, noting, “Everyone played well and adjusted throughout the day as needed. We learned from many situations which will allow us to grow as a team. Our offense is strong when in system, along with our aggressive serving. We will continue to improve on our defense and communication.”
The Rockets are set to continue their season with a match at Centerville on Tuesday, where they will aim to build on their early success.
Stats Summary:
Molly Shafer: 109/122 Attacks, 78 Kills, 6 Assists, 33/40 Serving, 3 Aces, 39 Digs, 5 Blocks
Kate Shafer: 20/20 Attacks, 13 Kills, 85 Assists, 19/23 Serving, 3 Aces, 26 Digs, 7 Blocks
Lacey Taylor: 48/65 Attacks, 23 Kills, 2 Assists, 39/42 Serving, 6 Aces, 16 Digs
Kaylee Helm: 10 Assists, 49/53 Serving, 3 Aces, 30 Digs
Ella Ray: 4/6 Attacks, 3 Kills, 1 Dig, 2 Blocks
Lanie Batterson: 7/8 Attacks, 3 Kills, 2 Digs, 5 Blocks
Chloe Lyon: 4/6 Attacks, 2 Kills, 1 Assist, 1 Dig, 8 Blocks
Kinley Lobberecht: 2 Assists, 29/39 Serving, 4 Aces, 19 Digs
Layni Burch: 28/32 Serving, 2 Digs
The EBF Rockets have set a strong tone for their season, and the community will be eagerly watching as they continue to compete.
