(Avoca, IA) – The Audubon Wheelers were able to fight the whole way in the match against AHSTW and beat the Lady Vikes 3-0. Out of every match in the region this year, this was one of the closest three-set matches all season.
Audubon started off the match looking like they were going to take things into their own hands in the first set of action. Mattie Nielsen was on a hot streak as she continued to have kill after kill totaling five alone in the first set. After she went for a block in the front row, she fell jaggedly onto her ankle which forced her out for the majority of set one. This is when Audubon lost their leadership and AHSTW started to come back into the game. Harlow Miller kept Audubon in the match, but AHSTW’s Delaney Goshorn was able to help out in the front row. The Wheelers and Lady Vikes were close in the match until Nielsen came back into the set. That helped Audubon to close things out 25-23 in the first set of action.
The second set started off with an AHSTW run as they were able to launch out an 11-2 run over Audubon with the serving of Saydi Paulsen as she continued to keep the Lady Vikes on a serving run. Audubon ended the run and made one of their own, going on a run of six to put them at 12-8. The Lady Vikes missed a serve, and things were handed off to Audubon once again as they came back and went on a serving run to tie things up at 12-12. It was back-and-fourth action between the two until the Wheelers were able to capitalize on AHSTW miscommunication errors and take the second set 25-19.
Things rounded off differently in the third set as AHSTW claimed to another big lead in the first portion of the set as they were up 7-1. After a timeout by Audubon, they were able to climb their way back in and bring the set 9-8 as the Wheelers were now just down by one. After a Lady Vikes’ timeout, the two faced off in a tight matchup as AHSTW was able to fight down to a 23-23 tied match as Audubon then called a timeout. After their called timeout, the Wheelers earned an ace and finished things off catching the ball underneath the net to win 25-23 in the third set and take the match 3-0.
Audubon was led by Harlow Miller in kills with 13 and in blocks with three while leading in team aces with four. Mattie Nielsen had 12 kills in the match while earning seven digs in crucial situations. Addie Hocker also was crucial on offense as she had 29 assists and three blocks. Anna Larsen also helped in the serving game with two aces and led the team in digs with 12.
AHSTW was led by Delaney Goshorn with 11 kills and four blocks. Miranda Akers also helped in the front row as she had four kills and earned an assist. Saydi Paulsen earned two aces and three kills while leading the team in digs with 10. Halle Goodman led the team in aces with three overall on the night.
Audubon will take on Logan-Magnolia this Thursday for their last match before the Western Iowa Conference Tournament as AHSTW will have a week before playing in the conference tournament.
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