By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
Coach Onika Peterson’s New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva volleyball team continued to battle injuries in its quest to stay above the .500 mark.
The Panthers could win just one of three matches last week. NRHEG fell to Mankato East Sept. 16, bounced back for a non-conference win over Maple River the following evening, and lost a conference match at home to Medford last Thursday.
“We still need to cut down on our mental errors,” said Peterson.
The Panthers dropped to fifth in the conference (1-2) and to 6-7-1 overall.
Mankato EastNEW RICHLAND – Mankato East outscored NRHEG 75-40 in sweeping three games at New Richland Sept. 16.
The Cougars balanced front wall did not allow the Panthers to get much offense going. Game scores were 25-13, 25-10 and 25-17.
Ryann Hagen’s three kills were tops for NRHEG. Anna Stork added a pair of kills.
Sam Wolle and Taylor Karge both smacked eight kills for the Cougars.
Maddie Wagner and Hannah Lundberg led the Panther defense with four digs apiece.
Anna Lundberg handed out four assists for the Panthers.
Kassie Breitkreutz dished out 29 assists for Mankato.
East also won the junior varsity match, 20-25, 25-17 and 15-9.
Maple River
MAPLETON – The Panthers received a much better performance at the net on the way to a three-game sweep against Maple River at Mapleton Sept. 17.
NRHEG won 25-22, 25-23 and 25-19, outscoring the Eagles 75 to 64 for the night.
Paige Overgaard was a force up front, belting 12 kills to lead the Panthers.
Hagen contributed seven kills and Marnie Wagner added four.
Hagen and Cassidy Sletten both had a pair of ace blocks.
NRHEG enjoyed some success from the service line. Marnie Wagner delivered four ace serves, while Overgaard and Hailey Schuller added two apiece.
Maddie and Marnie Wagner led the Panther defense with eight digs apiece, two more than Overgaard.
Schuller passed out a team-best 12 assists, one more than Anna Lundberg.
The NRHEG junior varsity also enjoyed a sweep, winning 25-16, 25-23 and 25-19.
Medford
NEW RICHLAND – Medford evened its conference record at 2-2 by dominating the Panthers in a three-game sweep at New Richland last Thursday.
The Tigers outscored NRHEG 75-33 in winning 25-7, 25-13 and 25-13.
Medford improved its overall record to 10-3 this year.
Carlie Wagner returned to the Panther lineup and led NRHEG with eight kills.
Overgaard added four kills. Hagen produced three kills and Marnie Wagner chipped in with a pair of kills.
Maddie Wagner and Overgaard reached double digits in digs with 11 and 10 respectively.
Marnie Wagner helped out with eight digs, and Carlie Wagner added five kills.
Anna Lundberg contributed three ace serves and four digs.
Schuller dished out 10 set assists.
The Panthers have a conference match at last place Randolph tonight.
NRHEG travels to Blue Earth for a tournament Saturday.
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown comes to town next Thursday.
East 3, NRHEG 0
Mankato 25 25 25 75
NRHEG 13 10 17 40
NRHEG 3, Maple River 0
NRHEG 25 25 25 75
MR 22 23 19 64
Medford 3, NRHEG 0
Medford 25 25 25 75
NRHEG 7 13 13 33
NEXT: Tonight – NRHEG at Randolph, 7:15 p.m.