By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
Coach Onika Peterson’s New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva volleyball team had to survive a week without its top attacker, Carlie Wagner.
Wagner twisted an ankle in practice and was held out of both matches. The Panthers managed a split despite numerous players switching to new positions.
NRHEG was swept in three games at Le Sueur-Henderson Sept. 10.
The Panthers rebounded with a four-game victory at home over Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton last Thursday.
NRHEG stands 1-1 in the Gopher Conference and 5-5-1 overall.
Le SueurLE SUEUR – The Panthers had to scramble after Wagner’s injury at practice Monday to get ready for Tuesday’s match against a tough section opponent.
LSH improved its record to 3-7 by sweeping the Panthers 25-17, 25-12 and 25-14, a convincing 75-43 total.
“I was optimistic after the first game,” said Peterson. “But, errors ended up killing us.”
Paige Overgaard stepped up her game without Wagner, smacking eight kills and making two ace blocks.
Hannah Lundberg delivered six kills and Ryann Hagen chipped in with three more.
Overgaard also sparked the Panther defense with 12 digs.
Hagen came up with six digs, Anna Lundberg contributed five digs and Hannah Lundberg added four digs.
Anna Lundberg passed out eight assists, and Hailey Schuller handed out six assists.
“We shuffled some girls around and many were playing new positions,” said Peterson. “We did not have much consistency with our offensive attacks.”
NRHEG won at junior varsity level 25-21, 20-25 and 15-7.
JWP
NEW RICHLAND – NRHEG evened its conference record by taking three of four from JWP in New Richland last Thursday.
The Panthers outscored JWP 96-74 in winning 25-18, 21-25, 25-9 and 25-22.
The Bulldogs slipped to 0-2 in the conference and 2-4 for the year.
Overgaard was a force in the front row, smacking 13 kills and providing six ace blocks.
Maddie Wagner drilled nine kills for the Panthers, Marnie Wagner nailed seven kills, Hagen added four kills and Anna Stork chipped in with three kills.
Kennedy Strauss had 11 kills and eight blocks for the Dawgs. Hannah Boyer added seven blocks.
NRHEG’s defense was busy, led by 19 digs from Overgaard, 16 by Hannah Lundberg and 15 from Marnie Wagner.
Maddie Wagner chipped in with 10 digs for the winners, Schuller picked up seven digs and Anna Lundberg contributed six digs.
JWP’s Hannah Olson led the Bulldogs with 10 digs.
Anna Lundberg handed out 14 assists running the Panther offense. Schuller delivered 11 assists.
Dani Ziemke passed out 10 assists for JWP.
“We moved much better defensively tonight,” said Peterson. “We passed the ball well and tried to attack offensively as much as possible.”
JWP captured the junior varsity match, winning 25-17 and 26-24.
NRHEG returns to Gopher Conference action tonight, hosting Medford.
The Panthers entertain TC United Tuesday before travelling to Randolph next Thursday.
LSH 3, NRHEG 0
NRHEG 17 12 14 43
LSH 25 25 25 75
NRHEG 3, JWP 1
JWP 18 25 9 22 74
NRHEG 25 21 25 25 96
NEXT: Tonight – Medford at NRHEG, 7:15 p.m.