Red Oak splits week of Hawkeye 10 volleyball

RED OAK— With only two matches on the docket last week, Red Oak split their matches in tough Hawkeye 10 battles against Clarinda and St. Albert.

Their lone win last week was a comeback at home versus the Clarinda Cardinals. Red Oak came from two games down last Tuesday to defeat Clarinda 3-2 in a jam-packed Red Oak High School gymnasium.

“I just think this team and the teams I’ve coached in the past, they know they’re always in the match,” Red Oak volleyball coach Angie Montgomery said.

The Cardinals won both of the first two games by a score of 25-21. Clarinda appeared on their way to a sweep, but Red Oak rallied and was able to establish a 20-15 lead in the third game.

“We had to come back and fight,” Red Oak hitter Angela Mahoney said after the match. Montgomery told the team following the game two loss that the night had been prolonged and now they would need to play all five games to get the win.

“I think they just believe. They believe wearing that uniform means something and they’re going to be in every point,” she said.

Clarinda tried to end the match, but Red Oak scored enough points to win game three 25-22 and kept it going.

The Cardinals kept Red Oak from gaining momentum by jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth game. The Tigers scored points, but still trailed. 

At one point, the Tigers were down 15-11. They quickly rallied, scoring seven of the next eight points and took an 18-16 lead.

From there, Red Oak was able to hold on and win the fourth game 25-20. The rally led to scoring from players Kate Walker, Mahoney and Grace Blomstedt. All three finished with double-digits in kills.

Game five started once again with Clarinda taking an early lead. Red Oak played catch-up, but the Cardinals had a close lead more than halfway through the game.

A kill by Clarinda hitter Darcy Sunderman gave the Cardinals a 13-11 lead. 

With their backs against the wall, the Tigers scored four straight points and took the fifth game 15-13.

“We have to make sure that we stay aggressive and balanced as possible because that’s what is going to get us to Cedar Rapids,” Montgomery said.

Walker led the way for Red Oak with 18 kills out of 43 attack attempts. Mahoney had 17 kills, while Blomstedt finished with 11. 

“We can’t do it with only three people. Everyone on the court contributes,” Mahoney said. “When you get the hard hits up, you get a great set, there’s nothing that can stop you sometimes.”

Blake Bergren and Courtney Billings were the only other Red Oak players with kills in the win. Billings had five, while Bergren finished with two.

Billings was responsible for 26 of Red Oak’s 50 assists, one short of a career-high. Makelti White was the only other Red Oak player with double-digit assists, recording 18.

Both Mahoney and Walker were co-leaders in digs for the night, each finishing with 15.

St. Albert 3, Red Oak 1

It was senior night and Pink Out Night in Red Oak. However, the Tigers finished their last regular season home match with a loss to a tough, state-contending St. Albert squad.

All four of the games were determined by five points or less;, three were determined by two points.

Game one started with Red Oak jumping out to an early lead. Walker, Blomstedt and Mahoney led the attack.

Red Oak had a seven-point lead nearly halfway through the first game. St. Albert settled down and rallied, playing catch-up in the process.

After kills by both Mahoney and Bergren, Red Oak had a 16-12 lead. St. Albert nearly tied the game at 16-15, which forced Red Oak to use a timeout. They were able to hold onto the lead, but the Saintes were close.

St. Albert eventually tied game one 22-22 and scored three of the final four points to win 25-23.

Red Oak jumped out to an early lead again, but St. Albert rallied to take an 11-9 lead. 

The two sides traded points as Red Oak re-took the lead, never giving it back to the Saintes until it was 22-21. 

St. Albert had a 23-22 lead, when an ace by White, as well as a kill by Walker gave the Tigers the 24-23 lead. 

St. Albert tied it twice, but Red Oak was able to get the 27-25 win thanks to a Blomstedt spike off one of the St. Albert players.

Game three once again was close and went back and forth. A rally by St. Albert gave them a 22-19 lead in the crucial game three.

Red Oak called timeout and scored three straight points to tie the game. The two sides once again traded points, but St. Albert was able to win the third game 27-25.

The Tigers didn’t give up in the fourth game and kept tight with the Saintes. 

St. Albert had the 19-16 lead, but Red Oak scored four consecutive points to lead 20-19, forcing the Saintes to use a timeout. 

Following the timeout, St. Albert re-took the lead and scored enough points to win game four 25-22.

Walker and Blomstedt were the only Red Oak players with double-digit kills. Walker had 19 kills with nine digs, while Blomstedt had 13 kills and four block assists.

Red Oak scored a lot of blocks against St. Albert. Madison Gilbert had six block assists, while Bergren, Mahoney and Walker each had three. Walker was the only Red Oak player with a solo block.

Mahoney finished with 11 digs to lead Red Oak.

Meanwhile, White and Billings each finished with 17 assists.

The season winds down for Red Oak. They have two regular matches and one tournament remaining before the regional quarterfinals Oct. 28.

It all starts Tuesday night when Red Oak heads to Atlantic to play the Trojanns. The last time the two teams met was Sept. 21 at the Red Oak Tournament. The Tigers won 2-0.

On Saturday, Red Oak heads to Winterset to take part in the tournament.