Riverside sweeps out Spartans in regional volleyball

 OAKLAND (Oct. 19) -- The effort and energy were there, but Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton lacked the execution to hang with Riverside in Monday’s Class 1A, Region 2 volleyball opener at Oakland.
 Led by a balanced attack at the net, the host Bulldogs swept the Spartans 25-13, 25-14, 25-18 to advance to Wednesday’s regional quarterfinal at 12th-ranked Coon Rapids-Bayard.
 Exira-EHK, which finished 11-18, battled back to tie the third set at 11-11 after falling behind 7-1 but then allowed five straight points and couldn’t recover.
 “We got started a little too late... but I’m proud of the girls,” said Exira-EHK head coach Courtney Peppers. “We’ve almost doubled our (win total from last year), so we’re getting there. They fought there at the end and I can’t be more proud of them."
 Riverside (15-11), which lost a five-setter to CR-B Wednesday, was led by nine kills from Mack Olmstead-Mitchell vs. Exira-EHK. Ella Hensley had eight kills and Veronica Andrusyshyn added six. Kenna Ford led the Bulldogs with 14 digs.
 The Spartans were led by Tatum Grubbs’ three kills and two apiece by Makaela Riley, Katie Andersen and Mollie Rasmussen. Shay Burmeister set six assists and Rasmussen had four. Quinn Grubbs was the team dig leader with four, Burmeister had two block assists and Rasmussen served the Spartans’ lone ace.
 E-EHK showed improvement in 2020, raising its win total from 6-23 last year to 11-18. Peppers said that one of the biggest bright spots this fall was how the girls came together as a team. Spartan seniors were Tatum Grubbs and Makaela Riley.

Class 1A, Region 2 Volleyball Tournament
First Round Scores • Monday, October 19
Woodbine 3, Ar-We-Va 2 (25-21, 21-25, 15-25, 25-18, 15-11)
Logan-Magnolia 3, Heartland Christian 0 (25-9, 25-10, 25-10)
Glidden-Ralston 3, Boyer Valley 0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17)
Coon Rapids-Bayard 3, Audubon 0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-21)
Riverside 3, Exira-EHK 0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-18)
St. Albert 3, Sidney 0 (25-19, 25-13, 28-26)
Quarterfinal Scores • Wednesday, October 21
#6 Newell-Fonda 3, Woodbine 0
Logan-Magnolia 3, Glidden-Ralston 2
#12 Coon Rapids-Bayard 3, Riverside 2
CB St. Albert 3, Fremont-Mills 0