West Delaware responds, marches to 30-0

SOLON - Adversity has been a rare visitor for the West Delaware Hawks this season.

They faced a minor dose of it Thursday, and handled it like troopers.

Blown out in the third set, the Class 4A second-rated Hawks came up with an emphatic answer and closed out 3A No. 1 Solon in four sets (25-22, 25-23, 11-25, 25-16) in Thursday's Wamac Conference East Division volleyball showdown at Solon High School.

'That third set, our minds weren't there,” said Hawks setter Carlee Ketchum. 'Before we went back out there, we talked and said we needed to play our hearts out and get in the right spot at the right time.”

West Delaware (30-0 overall, 6-0 Wamac East) wrapped up a share of the divisional title. The Hawks can win it outright if they defeat 3A No. 2 Mount Vernon (21-3, 5-1) Tuesday at Manchester.

'This was a big one, (a match) that we've had in the back of our minds since the first day of practice,” said Haley Morrison. 'We have a lot more big ones coming up.”

That includes the loaded Westside Invitational on Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Tuesday's match against Mount Vernon, the Wamac tournament and the postseason.

The Hawks won a pair of tight sets early. They came back from a 23-22 deficit in Game 2 by closing with the final three points - a block by Bridget Hoffmann, then kills by Marly Boies and Hoffmann.

Solon (19-5, 5-1) pounded the Hawks in the third set, scoring the first six points and never letting up.

It was only the second set loss of the season for the Hawks.

'A lot of it was self-induced,” said Hawks Coach Brett Mather. 'We gave them opportunities, and they took advantage. The big focus atfer that set was that we needed to come out strong (in Game 4).”

Did they ever.

West Delaware led the final set throughout, gaining separation with a five-point run for an 11-4 lead. It grew to 23-11 before Solon made a five-point surge.

An errant serve got the Hawks to match point, then Kristen Wegmann ended it with an ace.

Solon Coach Peter Gustin said the difference between the teams was discipline.

'For us, it was the same thing as always. We were undiscliplined. We had 40 unforced errors,” Gustin said. 'We were trying to be flashy. We like to make the big play instead of making the smart play.

'West Delaware, they are a disciplined team. They throw their bodies on the floor for the ball. And they're so quick.”

Morrison and Addison Brooks collected 10 kills apiece for the Hawks, with Ketchum distributing 30 assists.

Jordan Smith posted 14 kills and five aces to lead Solon. Jordan Runge added 13 kills and four blocks, with Taylor Nearad counting 37 assists.

WEST DELAWARE 3, SOLON 1 (25-22, 25-23, 11-25, 25-16)

At Solon

Serving - West Delaware 79-86 (.919), Solon 76-86 (.884); Aces - West Delaware 7 (Jade Putz, Emily Thole 2), Solon 10 (Jordan Smith 5); Kills - West Delaware 45 (Addison Brooks, Haley Morrison 10), Solon 46 (Smith 14); Assists - West Delaware 44 (Carlee Ketchum 30), Solon 41 (Taylor Nearad 37); Blocks - West Delaware 8 (Bridget Hoffmann 3), Solon 8 (Jordan Runge 4).

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