Playing short-handed over two days in the Jimmy John’s Classic in Marshall, the Coyotes of Heron Lake-Okabena / Fulda won two of five matches, defeating both Hills-Beaver Creek and Dawson-Boyd in the huge 21-team tournament.
The Coyotes started things off Friday (October 4) with a victory over H-BC (25-23, 20-25, 15-9). Later that same evening, HLOF was defeated in two sets by a very good Russell-Tyler-Ruthton squad (19-25, 12-25). The Knights went on the place third in the entire tournament.
On Saturday (the fifth), the Coyotes opened with a loss to Renville County West (22-25, 25-22, 11-15) before defeating the Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks (25-22, 26-24). The Coyotes ended the tournament with a three-set loss to Montevideo (8-25, 25-21, 12-15).
By going 2-3 at the Classic, HL-O / Fulda is now 13-12 overall for the season and has a pair of upcoming conference matches to end the regular season. The Coyotes travel to Edgerton Thursday (October 10) and host Ellsworth at Okabena next Monday evening, October 14.
“Considering the fact that we had lost a five-set match the night before (Thursday against Red Rock Central at Lamberton) and that we played without Sam Untiedt and Hailey Liepold (out with injuries) all weekend, I thought we did really well,” summed up HLOF head coach Trista Rhubee about her team’s performance in Marshall. “It was actually interesting to see some other girls step up to fill those gaps on offense and defense.”
Some of the highlight cumulative statistics from the tournament included a total of 29 kills and 40 digs by junior outside hitter Meakin Bang, 16 kills from senior middle hitter Maddie Ruesch, 14 kills by senior outside hitter Kailee Haberman, 15 kills and 37 digs by eighth-grade outside hitter Marissa Becker, 67 digs by junior libero Grace Kilian and 69 set assists, along with 32 digs, from versatile sophomore setter Elly Bang.
“Throughout our matches, the girls never gave up and fought hard right up to the last point,” Rhubee concluded. “Overall, I was impressed with the versatility and determination of the team. They played with great attitudes, setting the tone for our upcoming matches.”
