Volleyball: Vikings rally past Falcons in five games
Published 11:14 pm Monday, October 6, 2014
The Hayfield volleyball team celebrates after beating Fillmore Central in five games in Hayfield Monday night. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
HAYFIELD — With just a handful of matches remaining before they begin the postseason, the Hayfield volleyball team is clicking at the right time.
Hayfield’s Carrie Rutledge goes up for a block against Fillmore Central’s Leah Scheevel in Hayfield Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield held off Fillmore Central (16-6 overall), which was the runner-up in the Class A state tournament last season, in five games to get the win in Hayfield Monday. The Vikings won the match by scores of 27-25, 17-25, 20-25, 26-24, 15-5.
“I knew it was going to be a battle,” Hayfield head coach Jeremy Struck said. “They gave us everything we could handle and more. They’re such a scrappy team with a mixture of a power.”
Hayfield (13-6 overall) looked to be on the brink of a loss when it trailed game four 19-15, but the Vikings bounced back as Savanna Cordle, who had 11 kills, stepped up in the middle. Cordle had a kill to make it 22-20 Hayfield and she had a big kill to make it 23-23.
Jo Bungum kept Hayfield in the match when she hit a kill that made it 24-24 and freshman Maggie Streightiff added a kill to make it 25-24 Vikings. Streightiff pounded down four straight points early in the game to put the Vikings up 13-10.
Hayfield’s Madison Heydt goes up for a hit against Fillmore Central Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“We started to get sets down and passes down,” Streightiff, who had 14 kills, said. “When that happens, we get kills.”
Hayfield, which dominated the fifth game, also had to come back in the first game. The Vikings trailed the opening game 24-21, when it scored six of the last seven points to get the win. Freshman Carrie Rutledge had a key kill to pull the Vikings within 24-23.
Hayfield had to overcome the loss of its starting middle hitter Katelyn Bjornson, as she went down with an ankle injury early in the second game.
“With our middle going down, we had players really step up and play their spot. It really helped the whole team,” said Jo Bungum, who had 12 kills and 32 digs. “We really came out to play in the last two games tonight.”
After graduating the majority of their leaders from last season, the Vikings have grown closer throughout this season. The team is also playing much better as the season moves along.
“We’ve gotten a lot closer and we’re having a lot of fun,” Bungum said. “On and off the court, we’re a great team and we’re always together.”
Hayfield’s Bhrett Zahnle makes a dig in against Fillmore Central in Hayfield Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield stats: Maggie Streightiff, 14 kills, 22 set assists, 4 blocks, 3 aces; Jo Bungum, 12 kills, 32 digs; Savanna Cordle, 11 kills, 3 blocks; Carrie Rutledge, 9 kills, 15 digs