VAN METER — Woodward-Granger gave host Van Meter a test Thursday, but the Bulldogs passed the challenge to record a 3-0 sweep in WCAC volleyball.
Van Meter (16-3, 8-2) claimed narrow wins of 26-24 and of 30-28 in the first two sets, with the hosts then ending the match with a 25-16 victory in the third set. W-G fell to 11-14 overall and 7-3 in league action with the loss.
The match was the final event for veteran officiating pair Don Stracke and Jerry Bebout.
Elly Polich had 13 kills and Natalie Weaver 10 to lead the W-G offense, with Gena Tague and Grace Deputy adding two kills apiece while Brayten Ashman, Darby Nixon, and Audrey Simmons provided one kill each. Simmons had 16 assists, Polich five, and Nixon four, with Ashman, Deputy, and Faith Keuhl having one assist apiece.
Deputy tallied four blocks on the front line, with Ashman making 2-1/2. Tague had 1-1/2 blocks and Simmons one, with Polich recording an assisted block. Nixon and Simmons each had 17 digs to lead the guests, with Polich making 13 digs and Weaver 11. The Hawks received three digs apiece from Ashman, Keuhl, and Tague.
W-G served 60-of-69 (87 percent) with five aces. Keuhl was 13-of-13 with and ace and Simmons 12-of-13 with one ace for the Hawks. Polich (10-11-1), Weaver (9-12-1), Nixon (9-of-11), and Ashman (7-of-9) also had serving duties.
The Hawks cancelled Saturday’s Norm McCune Invitational out of concern for public and team safely in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. W-G hosts Madrid Oct. 21 in Class 2A Region 4 play. The winner will travel to Eldora Oct. 26 to meet either South Hardin, South Hamilton or Eagle Grove, the latter two of which meet Oct. 18 in the opening round.
All postseason matches will start at 7 p.m.
