MFL MarMac wraps up regular season
Payton McElwaine served up three kills in MFL MarMac’s loss to Waukon on Oct. 14. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Libero Lauryn Johnson has anchored MFL MarMac’s back row defense all season. That continued last week, with 14 digs versus Waukon and 22 against Crestwood.
Kensey Ball was responsible for four aces after making all 14 of her serve attempts against the Indians.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The MFL MarMac girls volleyball team closed out its Upper Iowa Conference and regular season schedules last week, losing tough matches to Waukon and Crestwood.
Waukon, who entered the Oct. 14 game in Monona with just six losses, won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-19, before the Bulldogs stormed back with a 25-18 victory in set three. Unfortunately, that momentum didn’t hold through the fourth frame, as the Indians overpowered the Bulldogs 25-5.
Waukon was dominant both offensively and defensively at the net, earning a .321 kill efficiency and racking up 14 blocks. MFL MarMac’s kill efficiency came in at .041, led by nine kills from Lily Johnson. Maddie Keehner followed with eight, then Payton McElwaine, Blair Winter and Macy McGeough all record three kills. Addison Corlett paced the offense with 20 assists.
Keehner recorded the Bulldogs’ lone block, while Lauryn Johnson amassed a team-high 14 digs. Lily Johnson also aided the back row defense with 10 digs, Corlett eight and Kensey Ball six.
The Indians made just 84.8 percent of serves overall, but tallied 14 aces against MFL MarMac. The Bulldogs served well, too, making 94.1 percent, including 12 aces of their own. Ball was responsible for four aces after making all 14 of her serve attempts. Corlett was 12/12 with an ace and Lily Johnson hit 11 of 13 serves for four aces.
MFL MarMac and Crestwood traded sets in an Oct. 16 thriller in Cresco. The Bulldogs won the opener 25-23, before the Cadets evened the score 25-19 after set two. MFL MarMac regained the advantage with a 25-20 set three victory, but Crestwood rallied 25-21 and 15-12 to earn a 3-2 win.
The Bulldogs continued to serve well, making 90.3 percent overall with 13 aces. Crestwood had a slightly lower 88.5 percent efficiency and managed just five ace serves. McGeough was an impressive 19/19 for MFL MarMac, and Corlett hit all 18 of her attempts with one ace. Lauryn Johnson was 16/17 with three aces and Ball collected four aces on 15/16 serving.
It was at the net where MFL MarMac struggled, earning a negative kill efficiency and totaling 52 errors to Crestwood’s 21, while taking over 40 more kill attempts. The Cadets thwarted the Bulldogs with a whopping 24 blocks, including 11 solo efforts and 13 assists.
Corlett turned in 47 assists, many of them going to Lily Johnson, who led the team with 21 kills. McElwaine netted 13 and Winter eight.
Defensively, Keehner secured two solo blocks and two block assists, while Winter had a solo effort and Lily Johnson and McGeough had one assist apiece. Lauryn Johnson led the back row with 22 digs, followed by Lily Johnson with 15. Corlett and Ball each picked up 11 digs and Devon Meyer 10.
MFL MarMac finished the regular season 14-22 overall, doubling the win total from a year ago. The Bulldogs were 5-6 in the Upper Iowa Conference.
The team kicked off postseason play this week, hosting Postville Oct. 20 for a Class 2A - Region 5 first round match. The winner heads to Beckman Catholic on Oct. 22.
