Indians Topple Number 5 DCG
by Jamie Brockman
An energized Oskaloosa Volleyball team upset number five ranked DC-G 3-2 in a thrilling five sets Tuesday night.
Coach Jennifer Comfort told Jamie Brockman before the match that the girls were ready, and she had no doubts they would win. The girls proved her right with a strong start putting the fifth-ranked Fillies on their heels early in the first set. Faith DeRonde was too much for DC-G as she racked up over ten kills en route to a 25-17 win.
The second set was back and forth with each team swapping leads but tied 23-23, Senior Emily Richmond made two huge plays to end it with a block and a kill giving the Indians a 25-23 win.
With their backs to the wall, DC-G, a 4A State Semifinalist a year ago, regrouped and dominated set three 25-8.
Oskaloosa played much more energized in a back and forth set four, but the Filles would force a decisive fifth set with a 25-20 win.
The fifth set featured some of the best and hardest fought volleyball you may see all season. Only playing to fifteen, you can’t afford to fall too far behind early. The Indians did just that as DC-G raced out to a 5-0 lead. Oskaloosa answered with three straight points to get back in. Trailing 7-5, Meghan Moorman served up three aces giving Osky an 8-7 lead. The Indians continued to roll building a 12-8 advantage forcing a Fillies time out. Osky added another out of the time out and were two points away from the win at 13-8. DC-g then scored six straight points and were in set/match point leading 14-13. Senior, Taylor Wills got two huge kills back to back for the Indians, and now Osky was serving for the win. A good battle went to the Fillies to tie 15-15. Neither team could put the other away, but on their third match point, Jessica Schlesselman ended it with a kill giving Oskaloosa an 18-16 win and 3-2 match win.
In my post-game chat with Coach Jennifer Comfort on the Indians Network, she said, “They were pumped and ready. After playing tough competition over the weekend they were ready for this,” I asked what she saw from her team in those first two sets: “I saw confidence, I saw us executing our game plan including some changes we made and the girls adjusted to those really well.”
Commenting on the fifth set, she said: “I knew we needed to get a little bit of a run, and when we got that run you could see the girls believing in each other and believing they could win and we did.”
Faith DeRonde led Osky with 22 kills, 35 digs, one block, and two ace serves. Taylor Wills played strong with 11 kills, 12 digs, and two blocks, Emily Richmond had seven plus three blocks while Mary Nelson and Jessica Schlesselman each had four. Jolie Yang had 45 assists to five different hitters. Riz Alesna had 22 digs, and Meghan Moorman had six ace serves.
Oskaloosa improved to 6-4 in match play and 16-13 in sets. The Indians are also 2-0 in Little Hawkeye Conference play.
They travel to Southeast Polk Saturday where they will face the best in the state in Class 5A, including fourth-ranked Waukee and 11th ranked Ankeny Centennial. The Indians return home to host Newton Tuesday, and you can watch the match live on the Indians Network.
