Tigers down Raiders in battle of ranked teams

By Casey Krautkramer

Stratford’s varsity volleyball team is ranked No. 4 in Division 3 this week while Marathon is ranked No. 5, so something had to give on Tuesday night. Stratford won its 10th consecutive match by defeating Marathon, 3-1, at home to take sole possession of first place in the Marawood South Conference.

Marathon edged Stratford in the first set, 25-23. Stratford rebounded to win the next three sets by scores of 25-15, 25-14 and 25-13 to take the match.

Senior Kalyn Schueller led Stratford in its match win against Marathon with 14 attack kills. Junior Emily Zuelke added nine kills while senior Mckenzie Novotny had seven kills and senior Daisy Yoder had five kills.

Schueller paced the Tigers with three serve aces while Novotny had two and aces and senior Emerson Roy added one ace.

Senior Carly Pankratz led Stratford’s defense with 16 digs and Schueller added 13 digs. Junior Tria Tubbs paced the Tigers with three solo blocks and two block assists. Zuelke collected two solo blocks and two block assists. Yoder added one solo block and two block assists. Novotny and Roy had one block assist each.

Marathon junior Emma Love led her team in its road loss to Stratford with eight attack kills while senior Kyla Heise added six kills and sophomore Kate Love had five. Senior Chenpieng Phakkitthong and sophomore Mayven Schneider paced the Red Raiders with two ace serves each and Emma Love had one ace.

Sisters Emma and Kate Love recorded one solo block apiece. Freshman Brinly Stencil, junior Mylee Haehlke, Emma Love and Heise each had one block assist.

Senior Katie Leblanc led Marathon’s defense with 14 digs followed by Phakittong with 13. Schneider added 11 digs while Kate Love had nine and Heise eight.

Stratford improves its match record to 19-3 overall and 4-0 in the Marawood South Conference. Marathon falls to 17-6 overall and 2-1 in the Marawood South. Marathon also lost a non-conference road match to Loyal on Thursday but player statistics were not available.

Wildcats fall to Cardinals

Edgar’s varsity volleyball squad lost to Newman Catholic, 3-0, on the road Tuesday. The Wildcats lost to the Cardinals in straight sets by scores of 25-23, 25-14 and 25-19. Individual players statistics were not available. Edgar’s match record is currently 13-9 overall and 2-1 in the Marawood South Conference.

The Edgar Wildcats edged the Rosholt Hornets, 3-2, in a road non-conference match on Thursday. Junior Ella Baumgartner led the Wildcats with 15 attack kills and senior Emery Borchardt added 14. Borchardt paced the team with four serve aces.

Twin sophomores Makita and Naquene Ellenbecker led Edgar with three blocks each while Borchardt added two blocks. Junior Kaitlynn Hartnady paced the Wildcats defense with 19 digs while junior Brandi Halverson had 10.

Bluejays lose to lady Bucs

The Athens varsity volleyball team fell 3-0 to Prentice in Tuesday’s road match. The Bluejays lost in straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-15 and 25-20. Individual player statistics were not available.

Athens has a 2-13 match record overall and is 0-2 in the Marawood North Conference.

TIGERS CELEBRATE - Stratford varsity volleyball players react to scoring a point during their 3-0 home match win against Auburndale on Sept. 17. Stratford beat Marathon, 3-1, on Tuesday at home. Stratford players pictured, from left to right, are Laney Pankratz, Mckenzie Novotny (12), Kalyn Schueller (9), Emerson Roy (3) and Tria Tubbs (14). PHOTO BY CINDY YODER