BCLUW volleyball bashes Bolts

CONRAD – BCLUW volleyball went on the offensive for a straight-set victory against Baxter in Iowa Star South action at BCLUW High School on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

BCLUW won 25-15, 25-8, 25-11 and improved to 7-8 overall and 2-0 in the Iowa Star South.

“We had the mindset of being completely, absolutely aggressive,” BCLUW head coach Abby Stephenson said, “and even if there were a couple errors, we were going to keep going, keep hitting.”

Sydney Anderson, the Comets’ junior setter, set up a varied attack on Tuesday, with five different Comets landing at least five kills, led by Mallori Jones with 10 kills. Virginia Kaisand, Kailan McEwen and Miranda Jones swatted seven kills each.

“It just goes back to the basics,” Anderson said of clicking with her attackers. “Start with the pass, go to the set and get comfortable.”

Anderson added 10 digs and two ace serves on 13-of-15 serving.

“It takes everybody to be part of the offensive process,” Stephenson said. “Giving ourselves opportunities in any circumstance to be as offensive as we possibly can.”

After a balanced offensive effort to win set one, BCLUW poured it on in set two with an 8-2 start and went up 16-2 to start set three.

The win gives the Comets some forward momentum after a 1-4 performance at the home round robin tournament on Sept. 3, followed by a four-set loss to Gladbrook-Reinbeck three days later.

“Consistency is just a main area of importance,” Stephenson said. “How well can we keep that level of aggressiveness, being consistent and taking care of it. And as we continue to build on that, hopefully we can just find that level, which I think we’re totally capable.”

BCLUW’s next two Iowa Star matchups are biggies on the road at GMG on Sept. 20 and then against top-ranked North Tama on Sept. 27.

The Comets will certainly be prepped for the challenge, though being away from a home crowd and an energetic home student section will be a change.

“That really brought up our energy during the game,” Anderson said of the student section. “We just have to keep working hard and have that high energy in practice.”

BCLUW 3, Baxter 0. Kills–Mallori Jones 10, Miranda Jones, Virginia Kaisand, Kailan McEwen 7, Grace Farnsworth 6. Assists–Sydney Anderson 32. Digs–Callie Swanson 17, Anderson 10, Raegan Crawford 8. Blocks–McEwen 4, Mi. Jones 3, Ma. Jones 1. Serving–Crawford 9-10, 3 aces; Farnsworth 21-21, 2 aces; Anderson 13-15, 2 aces.