In the final match before Regional Tournament play began, South O’Brien traveled to George on October 12 to take on the Mustangs. The Wolverines increased their point total by one in each succeeding set but fell to George-Little Rock 3-0 by scores of 25-16, 25-17 and 25-18. South O’Brien finishes eighth in the War Eagle Conference with a record of 3-7. The Wolverines entered Monday’s Class 1A Regional Tournament game at Trinity Christian with an overall mark of 6-15.
George-Little Rock’s Carly Koerselman served the Mustangs to an early lead in set one and her serves later in the set propelled the team to victory. She was at it again in set number two, staking her team to a late lead of seven points. Then in the third set it was Koerselman’s serves giving her team to the early advantage. For the night the Mustang junior was 26-of-29 serving with 14 ace serves.
Marissa Ebel was no slouch for South O’Brien. Her serving rallied the Wolverines in the first set and gave her team the lead midway through the second. She served 12-for-13 in the match with one ace.
The Mustangs’ Lindsey Haken also played a big role in the win. Her 15 kills were one more than the Wolverines managed as a team. Chloe Hustedt was South O’Brien’s kills leader with five. Taylor Wulf added another four. Ashlynn Gunnerman provided all seven of the team’s set assists.
Wulf joined Ebel with a 12-of-13 serving night and one ace. Brooklyn Edwards served 8-for-8, including the Wolverines’ third ace.
Topping the digs category was Jinger Nieuwenhuis with 12. Gunnerson dug up eight balls. Reese Farquhar and Wulf each notched a solo block and they combined on another. Edwards made a solo block as well.
South O’Brien Stats
Kills-Errors-Attempts (Kill Efficiency): Team 14-5-44 (.205), Chloe Hustedt 5-2-10 (.300), Reese Farquhar 1-1-7 (.000), Marissa Ebel 2-1-11 (.091), Taylor Wulf 4-0-9 (.444), Brooklyn Edwards 2-1-7 (.143).
Assists: Ashlynn Gunnerson 7.
Digs: Team 35, Jinger Nieuwenhuis 12, Gunnerson 8, Wulf 5, Abby Nelson, Edwards 4, Hustedt, Farquhar 1.
Blocks: Farquhar, Wulf 1 solo, 1 assist; Edwards 1 solo.
Serving (Efficiency): Team 45-51 (.882) 3 aces, Gunnerson 8-9 (.889), Hustedt 2-3 (.667), Farquhar 3-5 (.600), Ebel 12-13 (.923) 1 ace, Wulf 12-13 (.923) 1 ace, Edwards 8-8 (1.000) 1 ace.