Leopold Wins Three on the Road

Their first victory of the week was in Monday night's trip to Marquand to play the Tigers. The varsity Wildcats won in two sets, 25/6 25/9. The JV Wildcats also won their match in 2 sets, 25/11 25/9.

On Thursday, victory #2 came as the Wildcats defeated Zalma in 2 hard fought sets. I thought going into this game, we might get to see some good action with the Leopold and Zalma game, and I was right. Zalma has been working hard and improving as the season advances. Leopold always plays a good game. That being said, Thursday nights game was the best volleyball match I have seen in quite awhile. I love a good even matched game, and that's what this game was. Icing on the cake for me was the fact that these are my two favorite teams. The action was nip and tuck in both sets. The Wildcats and the Bulldogs each had to fight for nearly every point they received. Both teams used well maneuvered plays and both teams returned most every ball that was sent to them.

In the first set, the points stayed even up to a time when Leopold pulled ahead to lead, 13 to 10. Zalma fought back to tie the score up at 13 and the score was still tied at 16 points. It was hard to get anything past either team. Zalma's defense is scrappy, especially Torie VanGennip in their back row. Leopold was tough at the net, especially Abby Landewee and Kristen Thele. Leopold pulled ahead in the last few plays to win the first set 25/20.

The second set started off with Zalma in the lead, till Leopold tied the score at 8 points. The score was still tied at 13. Intense play continued and the score was tied at 16 points, then tied at 17 points. Like I said, I love a good close match, and that's what this was. Once again, Leopold pulled ahead in the final plays to win the set 25/19. According to Friday's Southeast Missourian, Abby Landewee had nine kills and four blocks. One block in particular was very impressive. Fridays paper also mentions Kristen Thele had 10 kills and Lauren Seiler had 26 assist in the match.

The JV game with Zalma was canceled.

Victory #3 came Friday night when Leopold traveled to Bell City, home of the Cubs. As I mentioned in my previous blog, there always seems to be good competition between Leopold and Bell City, and that makes for a great game. The rivalry between to two teams runs deep. When the teams play one another, you can count on a big turn out and this game was no exception. Both teams were well represented, the gym was packed with fans of both the Wildcats and the Cubs. School spirit and pride was evident in the students also. The Leopold Sprit Leaders were loud, proud and full of cheers. Bell City's student body had painted their faces in the school colors of red and black and they were full of cheers themselves.

The JV game had been canceled due to injured players at Bell City.

Tonight's action was to be a best 3 out of 5 match.

In the first set, there was no early lead by either team.

Bell City and Leopold matched each other nearly point to point as they started their climb to 25. The score was tied at 4, tied at 6, tied at 11. Leopold took a lead with the score 16-14 when a time out was called. Bell City stalled slightly after the time out and the Wildcats went on to win the first set 25/18.

When the second set started, Leopold took off hard and fast and lead 18-12 at one point. Bell City fought back and brought the score to within 4 of Leopold at 22-18. Leopold then took off hard again and ended the set 25/19.

As I mentioned before, I love a good competition match. The third set found Bell City taking an early lead with a 7-2 score. Leopold fought back and both teams were tied at the 12th point. Leopold took the lead for 2 points, 16/14, but Bell City had tied things back up at 16.

Action continued back and forth until a time out was called with the score 21/20, Bell City leading by one point. After the time out, both teams took off strong, but Bell City won the third set with a final game score of 25/23.

The fourth set began once again, in a point to point match up. With the score 10/8 Leopold leading, the Lady Wildcats started to pull away from the Cubs. In a few serves, the score was 15/9, Leopold ahead. A few more serves, 16/11 Leopold leading. A few more plays and the Lady Wildcats were leading 20/11. The fourth and final set came to a close on a ball knocked out of bounds by Bell City's Jasmine Johnson, with the final score standing at Leopold 25 Bell City 14.

For Leopold, Kristen Thele done a great job with her kills tonight. Mallory James and Abby Landewee were also tough at the net. From my point of view, it was tough to see which player was blocking, but the blocks were there, that's all that matters. Once again, Elizabeth Eftink had serves that were accurate and consistent. She and Whitney Lukefahr were coving the back row very well tonight also.

Jasmine Johnson on the Bell City team is an awesome player and her hits are hard to handle. She seems to jump so effortlessly. Her hits are accurate and quick.

After a busy week on the road, traveling from Marquand to Zalma to Bell City, Leopold plays a home game Monday night. The battle of the state ranked teams will take place when Leopold is the host to the Scott City Rams. In the latest rankings, which came out Sept. 21st. Scott City holds the 2nd spot in class 2 and Leopold holds the 2nd spot in class 1. I look forward to yet another great game full of evenly matched competition. The Lady Wildcats will have home court advantage. (Use it girls.) On Tuesday, Leopold is back on the road, this time to Meadow Heights. Both Scott City and Meadow Heights have a JV team, that will put the JV Wildcats back in action. Thursday will find Oran at Leopold. I've heard that Oran has only one team this year, if that is so, there will be no JV action against Oran.