Spartans go the distance with Knights
After dropping the first two sets in the Class 1A Region 8 Quarterfinal game against the Fremont-Mills Knights with scores of 25-16 and 25-11, the Exira-EHK Spartans volleyball team bounced back, winning sets three and four 25-21 and 25-21, then dropped set five 15-9 ending their season.
“We told them we are darn proud of them,” said Spartan Head Coach Derek Reischauer. “This group has fought hard all year, whether they were ahead or behind. They really showed a lot of character and perseverance to come back and win sets three and four and that character will take them a long ways in life.”
Sophomore Taryn Petersen led the way with 16 kills, followed by Senior Mayne Jorgensen at 12, and Junior Jaelynn Petersen with 10. Sophomore Riley Miller had 19 assists, and Sophomore Brooklyn Flathers had 16.
Defensively, three players were in double figures in digs with Jaelynn Petersen (20), Taryn Petersen (18), and Mayne Jorgensen (11). Zoey Rasmussen also added eight digs.
The Spartans finished their season with an overall record of 15-6, including a Class 1A Region 8 First Round victory over the CAM Cougars, and a win on Senior Night over the West Harrison Hawkeyes, which made them Rolling Valley Conference Champions for the first time since 2016. Reischauer praised Jorgensen and Ellen Rath.
“Mayne has been great all year at being a steady, calming influence on the team and she went out on a great high,” Reischauer said. “She is one of the girls who really put in a lot of time and work in getting our program turned around. I’m very happy for her and we sure are going to miss her and what she brought to the program. Ellen was really great this year in being a leader on the JV and helping those younger girls knowing where to be and what to do. We are going to miss her smile and happiness when she was out on the floor.”
Reischauer is optimistic about the future of Spartan volleyball with those returning and some new students that join the program.
“If everyone returns, I think we can continue to do some good things,” he said. “The conference is going to be even tougher next year so we'll talk with the girls in the near future about how we can push the program forward. I think we have something growing here, not just for next year, but for years beyond. Our community has done a great job of getting a youth program going in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade levels so I am excited to see that grow and watch those youngsters.”