Bulldogs enter postseason riding four-game winning streak
Carlie Jones hit two of MFL MarMac’s 15 kills in the 3-0 win over Clayton Ridge. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Lakota Morrissey put up a leading 15 assists against the Eagles, then had 21 more in the Oct. 14 win over Kee.
Riley Moreland was one of the Bulldogs' top serving threats against Clayton Ridge, going a perfect 12-12, with one of the team’s two aces.
Quick thinking Kaitlin Picha sets a back row ball.
Brooke Gillitzer (left) and Savannah Schaller combine to fend off the Clayton Ridge attack.
Karli Tilson spikes a ball in MFL MarMac's win over the Eagles.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac volleyball team wrapped up its regular season on a high note, earning straight set victories over both Clayton Ridge and Kee last week.
The Bulldogs hosted the Eagles Oct. 12, winning the first set 25-20, then coming back from a double-digit deficit to take set two 25-23. They capped off the win with a 25-18 score in the third set.
Clayton Ridge had twice the number of kills as MFL MarMac, with 30 compared to 15, but the Bulldogs made the most of considerably fewer shots, 108-57, and also had eight fewer kill errors. Riley Moreland landed a team-high nine kills and also pitched in nine assists. Brooke Gillitzer added four kills and Carlie Jones two, while Lakota Morrissey put up a leading 15 assists.
Defensively, Moreland accounted for all six MFL MarMac blocks and also snagged six digs. Miranda Lang dug a team-high 17 balls, and Kadence Pape picked up six and Ashley Shaw three.
The Bulldogs out-served Clayton Ridge 91.7 to 86.3 percent. Moreland was a perfect 12-12, with one of the team’s two aces, while Lang hit 12 of her 13 attempts. Morrissey was good on 11 of 12 serves, including an ace, and Gillitzer went 9-11.
MFL MarMac easily defeated one-win Kee on Oct. 14, cranking out scores of 25-11, 25-3 and 25-9.
Moreland smacked 13 of the team’s 23 kills, and had only one error on the night. Karli Tilson added another five kills, and Lauren Haberichter and Rose Koehn each had two. Morrissey was again tops in assists, with 21.
The Bulldogs had little to do defensively in the match, recording only seven digs. Lang totaled four, while Koehn, Moreland and Kaitlin Picha each contributed one.
MFL MarMac also dominated from the serving line, making 95.8 percent of attempts and smashing 11 aces. Lang led the effort with a 23-24 night, including two aces. Pape was a perfect 11-11, with four aces, and Morrissey made 11 of 12 serves, including an ace. Two aces also went to Moreland, who finished the game 7-7.
The win upped the Bulldogs’ season record to 14-11 and Upper Iowa Conference standing to 6-2. North Fayette Valley won the conference after going a perfect 8-0.
MFL MarMac, currently riding a four-game winning streak, will now start postseason play on Wednesday, Oct. 20. They’ll play at Starmont (18-9) in the Class 2A - Region 6 Quarterfinal. The winner will play again on Monday, Oct. 25, at Sumner-Fredericksburg.
