Playing short-handed without three of its season-long starting players, the Heron Lake-Okabena / Fulda varsity volleyball team had an uphill battle in its sub-section tournament opening match at Fulda last Friday evening, October 25.
Seeded fourth in the 10-team South Sub-Section (of Section 3A) playoffs, the Coyotes were pitted against the fifth-seeded Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers, a team that HL-O / Fulda had defeated in four sets (24-26, 26-24, 25-4 and 25-12) at Westbrook back on September 26.
But one month later, two injuries and an illness hampered the Coyotes overall effectiveness in the tournament rematch. This time, the Chargers won in four sets (25-14, 19-25, 25-9 and 25-19), ending HL-O / Fulda’s season with an overall record of 15-14.
Missing with injuries were eighth-grade outside hitter and back-row player Sam Untiedt (broken ankle) and senior middle hitter (and blocker) Maddie Ruesch (lower leg stress fracture).
While the Coyotes knew they would be without those two key starters, they did not anticipate Hailey Liepold — a talented and versatile junior middle hitter, who plays all-around with skills in both the front and back — coming down with an illness and being unable to play.
“It was unfortunate that we had three starters out, two (Untiedt and Liepold) of which originally played all the way around the court for us,” exclaimed Coyotes volleyball coach Trista Rhubee. “We missed the leadership, skills and hustle that those three — Maddie, Sam and Hailey — have given us throughout the season.”
HL-O / Fulda started out well, rallying from early deficits of 6-3 and 9-6 to knot the score at 12-12 after senior right-side hitter Kailee Haberman’s ace spike found the floor for a kill.
