Lady ‘Cats get back in rhythm against Vikettes, 3-0

By Jeff Holmes

VAN HORNE — After a weekend battling against some of the best teams in the State, the Benton Community volleyball team needed an adjustment Tuesday night, as they host their WaMaC West-rivalry against Vinton-Shellsburg at the Benton Fieldhouse.

Coach Mike Embretson’s Lady ‘Cats (13-8, won the match 25-11, 25-19. 25-14 against a Vikette squad who fell to 1-20 on the season.

Chloe DeGroot knocked down 13 kills for the Lady ‘Cats, with Talulah Schroeder adding 12 off of the 32 assists put up by setter Brynnlee Wieck.

Lily Schulte scooped up 18 digs for Benton, while freshman Emerson Ridgway swatted down three blocks.

Cam Erhardt led the Vikettes with five kills. Grace Fish and Shea Boots added four each. Freshman setter Emmy Page put up 16 assists for the Vikettes. Page also led the Vikette on service, going 12 for 16.

“Staying consistent-that’s the key right now,” Embretson said. “We had a little hole in set two, but we kind of came back and got it back into our rhythm and took care of business.”

Embretson was also pleased with the way the Lady ‘Cats blocked.

“That’s one thing we’re really focusing on this week when we kind of struggled with,” he said, “not closing the block, and so we’re really working hard on trying to get that piece of the game. Makes the defense a lot easier.”

Vikette head coach Devin Kearns saw some good points for her squad.

“We dug better than we have the past couple of weekend,” she said. “I think we made a defensive change, and we had a positive hitting percentage, which I think is huge. We’re consistently trending in the right direction when it comes to hitting percentage.”

VIKETTES — 11 19 14 — 0
BOBCATS — 25 25 25 — 3