By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
Coach Onika Peterson’s New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva volleyball team continues to struggle with mental errors.
The Panthers won a five-set match against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown before getting swept by Blooming Prairie.
The WEM match was a non-conference match so the Panthers are 0-1 in the Gopher Conference and 2-2 overall.
“We must cut down on our mental errors,” said Peterson. “We are not communicating, making setting errors, missing serves and committing net violations. These are mistakes we need to correct.”
WEM
WATERVILLE – NRHEG overcame a 2-1 deficit by winning the final two sets to claim a 3-2 victory over WEM in Waterville Sept. 3.
The Buccaneers slipped to 1-1 for the year.
The teams split the first two sets. WEM opened with a 25-20 win before the Panthers evened the match with a 25-19 victory.The Bucs were in control after a 25-15 triumph in game three, but the Panthers rallied with a 25-21 win, forcing a deciding fifth set.
NRHEG earned the victory with a 15-11 victory, despite being outscored 101-100 for the night.
“This was a nice team win. We got good contributions off our bench tonight,” said Peterson. “Hannah Lundberg and Remi Wayne both hit big serves for us. Carlie (Wagner) was fantastic defensively.”
Carlie Wagner topped the Panther attack with 15 kills. She also had three ace blocks at the net.
Marnie Wagner nailed seven kills, with Maddie Wagner and Ryann Hagen adding six apiece. Paige Overgaard chipped in with five kills.
Kamryn Kendall smashed 17 kills for WEM, and Kalley Kendall added 11 more.
Carlie Wagner delivered five ace serves for NRHEG, one more than Anna Lundberg.
Morgan Jindra was 21 of 23 from the service line for WEM.
Alexa Baker nailed 17 of 18 serves and was 32-35 in passing for the Buccaneers.
Carlie Wagner picked up 26 digs for the NRHEG defense.
Marnie Wagner had nine digs, Overgaard picked up seven digs and Maddie Wagner and Hagen contributed six digs apiece.
Hailey Schuller handed out 18 assists for NRHEG, three more than Anna Lundberg.
Kate Masberg dished out 19 assists for the Bucs, and Haley Taylor handed out 16.
The WEM junior varsity won 20-25, 25-17 and 15-7.
Blooming Prairie
BLOOMING PRAIRIE – The Blossoms won three close games to hand NRHEG a Gopher Conference setback at Blooming Prairie last Thursday,
The Blossoms outscored NRHEG 75 to 66, winning 25-21, 25-23 and 25-22.
“This was a tough loss. Blooming Prairie showed up ready to play,” said Peterson. “We didn’t put forth our best effort tonight.”
Carlie Wagner and Overgaard formed a nice one-two punch up front for NRHEG. Wagner smacked 12 kills, while Overgaard blasted 11 kills and had a pair of ace blocks.
Carlie Wagner picked up 18 digs for the Panthers, Maddie Wagner had 10 digs and Marnie Wagner contributed eight digs.
Anna Lundberg handed out 14 assists, and Schuller passed out another eight.
NRHEG is at home for a conference match against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton this evening.
NRHEG 3, WEM 2
NRHEG 20 25 15 25 15 100
WEM 25 19 25 21 11 101
BP 3, NRHEG 0
NRHEG 21 23 22 66
BP 25 25 25 75
NEXT: Tonight – JWP at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.