By Kerri Rempp
Potter-Dix withstood several challenges by the Sioux County Warriors to take home a 3-1 win on the volleyball court Friday.
The Potter-Dix Coyotes won 25-18, 25-7, 25-27, 25-20. Set one remained competitive throughout much of the early action, with each team leading three different times. The score was tied 11 times until the Coyotes took control after set point 14. Potter-Dix used that momentum to roll into set two and go up 10-0. The Warriors never recovered from the deficit, and the Coyotes looked ahead to earning a sweep. Sioux County, however, had different ideas.
The Warriors opened set three with a 5-0 run behind several Coyote errors and a kill by Sierra Eastman. Potter-Dix climbed back into the race, and the teams traded points, tying each other at every point from five to 18. Sioux County pulled ahead 21-19, and then went on to make it 24- 21 on a Kaylee Juhnke block. The Coyotes denied the Warriors set point four times and went ahead 25-24 but errors by Potter-Dix on the next plays handed the Warriors the 27-25 win to force a fourth set.
Potter-Dix opened up with a 7-2 lead in the final set, but the Warriors tied the contest at eight and nine and took an 11-9 lead as Juhnke served up four aces and Eastman landed two of her own, along with a kill. Sioux County held on to a 14-12 edge before Potter-Dix went on a run with two kills and two aces to take the lead 17-14. It was enough to send the Coyotes on to victory, as they closed it out with three consecutive kills.
Eastman led the Warrior attack with seven kills. She also tallied two ace serves and a block. Ella Hyer terminated on six kills, while Victoria Turbiville landed a free ball kill and had a block. Kaylee Juhnke, who joined the team this week to give the Warriors seven players on their roster and the ability to incorporate a libero, tallied four ace serves, two blocks and a kill.
The Warriors hosted their second triangular of the season earlier last week, hosting Minatare and Morrill on Sept. 17. Minatare earned a 2-1 win over the Warriors, taking set one 25-16 before dropping the second set 17-25. The deciding set was a close one, with Minatare getting the edge 25-22. Morrill controlled its contest against the Warriors, taking the win 25-15, 25-16. Two nights later, the Warriors took on Niobrara County. Lusk swept the Warriors 25-16, 25-3, 25-15.