Oskaloosa 7th Grade Volleyball Teams Battle Newton in Close Matches, B1 Earns Victory
OSKALOOSA, Iowa — The Oskaloosa 7th Grade volleyball teams faced Newton in a series of competitive matches, with the B1 team earning a two-set victory while the A1, A2, and B2 teams battled through several close sets.
Coach Paige Pierson reported strong serving performances and determined efforts across all four teams, including several matches decided by just two points.
A1 Falls in Two Close Sets
The A1 team pushed Newton to the final points of both sets before falling 21-19 and 22-20.
In the opening set, Paisley Doud led the Oskaloosa offense with two kills, while Willow Hahn-Lefler and Ava Kenney each contributed one kill.
Emelia Stewart delivered a strong service line, recording four aces. Aubrey Vance, Alivia Johnson, and Loryce Lammers each added one ace.
The second set was another close contest, with Newton narrowly securing the 22-20 victory.
Doud continued her offensive effort with two more kills and four serving aces. Lammers added two kills and one dig, while Hahn-Lefler contributed an ace.
A2 Forces Third Set Before Falling to Newton
The A2 team also pushed Newton to the limit, taking the match to three sets before falling 2-1.
Newton claimed the opening set 24-22 despite an impressive performance from Ava Kenney, who recorded one kill and eight serving aces. Addi Sille and Aurora Cramer each contributed an ace.
Oskaloosa responded in the second set, took control, and earned a 21-12 win to force a deciding third set.
Kenney added three more aces in the second set, while Lammers recorded two. Harper De Bruin, Sille, and Marlee Corbett each contributed one ace.
The deciding set was another close battle, with Newton edging Oskaloosa 15-13 to secure the match.
Kenney added one kill and two aces in the final set, bringing her A2 total to 13 serving aces and two kills. Lammers contributed another ace, while De Bruin recorded a dig.
B1 Sweeps Newton for Victory
The B1 team delivered Oskaloosa’s victory of the evening, winning both sets against Newton.
The Indians controlled the opening set, winning 21-10 behind a strong serving performance from Noemi Rodriguez.
Rodriguez closed out the set with an eight-point serving streak, giving Oskaloosa an 11-point advantage.
The B1 team continued its success in the second set, defeating Newton 21-13.
Gabby Larson and Megan Lobe served aces late in the set to help secure the win and complete the two-set sweep.
B2 Shows Determination Against Cardinals
The B2 team also faced Newton, falling 21-13 in each of the first two sets.
Cloey Johnson highlighted Oskaloosa in the second set, recording five serving aces.
Johnson’s serving helped the Indians gain ground against Newton as the team continued battling throughout the contest.
Indians Continue to Develop
The matches against Newton featured several strong individual performances, particularly from the service line.
Kenney’s 13 aces for the A2 team, Rodriguez’s eight-point serving streak for B1, and Johnson’s five aces in the B2 match were among the evening’s notable performances.
Although three of the four teams fell short, Oskaloosa stayed competitive throughout, with the A1 team losing both sets by just two points and the A2 team forcing a deciding third set.
Coach Paige Pierson credited the players for continuing to compete, responding to challenges, and supporting their teammates throughout the matches.
