M-S Volleyball 17-2 in tournament playing heading into IHSA playoffs

BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

All seven M-S volleyball seniors made contributions on Thursday in the Bulldogs’ 25-15, 25-12 triumph over Effingham on Senior Night.

Kayin Garner had 21 assists.

Lauren Minick had five kills, Amber Yeakel had four kills, Ashley Wheeler had three kills and Makayla Rosenbery delivered two kills.

Two other seniors made an impact in the back row. Ellie Beach had two digs and three service aces. Delaney Wheeler had one dig.

In the junior varsity match, Effingham defeated the Bulldogs 5-25, 25-23, 15-13.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs extended their winning streak to 14 matches – all in straight sets – before falling to St. Thomas More in the championship match of the Morgan Buerkett Invitational at St. Thomas More.

In pool play, the Bulldogs handled Cerro Gordo 25-12, 25-21, Payson-Seymour 25-12, 25-22 and New Berlin 25-15, 25-19.  M-S topped Galena in the semifinals 25-16, 25-13.

The host Sabers rallied for a 21-25, 25-12, 15-12 triumph in the finals.

Two Bulldogs were selected to the all-tournament team. Garner, a setter, was one of the choices after registering 113 assists, 31 digs and four service aces in the five matches.

Hitter Ainsley Ranstead was the Bulldogs’ other representative. For the day, she totaled 37 kills, 22 digs and 11 aces.

Yeakel was another of the team’s tournament leaders, rolling up 15 kills, eight blocks and four digs.

The Bulldogs have participated in four tournaments this season and have advanced to the championship match in each one.

M-S is 27-7 overall and 9-2 in Apollo Conference action.

The 27 wins ranks third on the school’s all-time list for victories in a season. The only teams with more were the 1995 and 2005 teams, each of which reached the 30-win mark.

The Bulldogs close out the regular season on Tuesday at Charleston.