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Cyclones string together big rally
By GREG MAST, Herald Sports Editor
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GARDNER — Seniors that have played a lot of volleyball have a different feel on the court.
Ottawa has nine seniors and they have seen about every situation possible during their years together.
State-ranked Paola, on its way to another 30-win season, had the Cyclones on the run Tuesday night at Gardner.
The Panthers had all the momentum in building a 17-8 lead in the second game after Ottawa won the opener, 25-22.
The Cyclones stayed true to the plan and won 10 of the next 11 points to tie the game at 18-18 and went on to stage a big comeback victory, 25-22, to win the match.
Ottawa then toppled Gardner, 25-17, 25-15.
“We maintained our composure,” Ottawa coach Kendra Oberzan said. “We stayed calm. That is a big step for us. They are a very good team.”
This probably was the first of three meetings of the two squads. Ottawa last season won two of the three matches, but lost the one that counted the most — sub-state final.
It was a classic match with both teams going at each other hard.
“We played well,” Oberzan said. “It was a good match. We played aggressive. We did a good job of playing defense.
“This is the best serving and passing team I have ever coached. Ball control is a huge strength.”
Ottawa got off to slow starts in each game against the Panthers. Ottawa fell behind 6-3 in the first game, but came back to tie the game at 10-10.
Ottawa won five of the next six points to forge a 15-11 lead. Paola came back to 15-14. It was close to the end until Ottawa pulled it out.
Paola quickly jumped on Ottawa in the second game, running to a 9-3 lead and later held that nine-point advantage.
Oberzan said Ottawa overcame the sluggish starts in both games with team work on defense.
“We had some amazing digs,” the coach said.
Ottawa (22-4) plays Thursday at Atchison.
Statistic leaders
Briana Finch — 7 kills.
Kristen Hendrickson — 7 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs.
Danielle Stevenson — 7 kills.
Kara McFarland 7 kills, 5 solo blocks, 2 block assists.
Meghan Cahill — 5 kills, .500 hitting percentage.
Jamie Allan — 17 assists.
Jori Graf — 8 digs.
Katie Jensen — 2.64 passing average.
JV tops Gardner
The Ottawa junior varsity pulled out a three-game win over Gardner to earn a sweep.
The Cyclones topped Paola, 25-19, 25-20, and Gardner, 28-26, 15-25, 15-4.
Ottawa (23-6) plays Saturday in the Frontier League tourney in Ottawa.
Statistics
Laura Stinebaugh — 1 ace, 2 kills, 1 assist, 5 digs.
Chandler Morgan — 7 kills, 7 digs.
Reggie Graf — 4 kills, 16 assists, 8 digs.
Alyssa Currier — 8 digs.
Jaime Birzer — 5 aces, 8 kills, 1 stuff block, 14 digs.
Angela Geist — 2 aces, 4 kills, 26 assists, 11 digs.
Maggie Bones — 5 aces, 12 kills, 9 digs.
Frosh sweep
The Ottawa freshmen also earned a sweep. Ottawa defeated Paola, 25-12, 25-22, and Gardner, 25-11, 25-18.
Ottawa (17-9) plays Saturday in the league tourney at Spring Hill.
Statistics
Paola
Points — Megan Shirley 10, Dana Peterson 5, Riley Diel 4 (ace), Jessica Dodd 4 (2 aces).
Kills — Natalie Stoops 4, Elisha Carlson 4, Alicia Jackson 2, Peterson 2.
Assists — Shirley 5, Angela Barth 3, Morgan Foster 1.
Blocks — Stoops 1.
Digs — Carlson 2, Dodd 2, Peterson 2.
Gardner
Points — Carlson 16 (5 aces), Dodd 5 (ace), Kaitlyn Lawrence 4 (ace), Foster 3 (ace).
Kills — Stoops 4, Jackson 4, Dodd 3, Peterson 2.
Assists — Shirley 6, Barth 6, Carlson 6.
Blocks — Dodd 1.
Digs — Lawrence 9, Carlson 5, Foster 2.
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