The Wild Rose Ladycats worked their way back from a two-game deficit to nearly win the next three in an Oct. 22 volleyball regional against the Markesan Lady Hornets.
“I could not be prouder of the seniors,” stated Wild Rose Head Coach Jason Kirby. “This is a testament of their work ethic. I wish them well, and I wish Markesan well.”
Markesan jumped out to an 18-11 lead behind Sydney Jahnke serves. The Lady Hornet lead was extended to 23-13 a short time later with a three-point service run. The Ladycats slowed them down a little with some help from a three-point service run from Leila Delrow to close the gap, 18-24, but a sideout gave the visitors a 25-18 first game win.
The hosts started the second game with a 2-0 lead with Elia Eggum serves, and soon extended the lead, 8-2, behind a five-point service run from Dalene Sherburn. Several sideouts kept both teams in the game, but Markesan was able to tie things up at 16 with a four-point service run from Jahnke. The score was tied two more times before the visitors took more control. The hosts wouldn’t make it easy, buy the Lady Hornets managed a 25-20 win on a sideout.
The score was slow in building in the third game, but Wild Rose did manage to hold an edge a good part of the way through. The score had been tied three times before the Ladycats took a little more control, taking a 22-16 lead with a four-point service run from Olivia Soper. The Lady Hornets slowed their opponents down again, but this time it was Wild Rose taking a 25-19 win on a sideout.
The hosts were determined to get the match into the fifth game, but first had to get through the fourth. The score stayed so close throughout, with 10 ties. Both teams had leads, with Markesan having an 8-5 lead with a three-point service run by Addison Dornfeld. The visitors later held a 20-17 lead with a four-point service run. Wild Rose clawed its way back into control. Eggum put together a five-point service run to help put the Ladycats into the fifth game with a 25-23 win in the fourth.
Markesan held an edge in the fifth game with the help of a three-point service run for a 9-4 lead, but there were seven ties before a winner was determined. One such tie was at 9 when Soper put forth a four-point service run for Wild Rose. The visitors had another three-point service run for a four point lead. Then it was a fight to the finish. The Lady Hornets eventually won 20-18.
Elia Eggum had 13 service points and 30 assists. Leila Delrow had four service aces.
Defensively Delrow had 29 digs. Dalene Sherburn had 15 kills, and Orria Wood had 12.
