Second-ranked Osage sweeps W. Fork

SHEFFIELD – West Fork first-year coach Hannah Vaughan knew what she was getting when Class 3A No. 2 Osage came to Sheffield on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

And the Warhawks got the expected from the Green Devils in the form of a 25-8, 25-10, 25-13 sweep.

But Vaughan still liked the way her team handled itself against the 14-0 team.

“I knew they were going to have some great hitters and pick up just about everything we can set at them,” Vaughan said. “They would have some strong serves, I watched them at a tournament and we were expecting that, we were ready for that. I thought our girls played amazing, we had our communication where we were picking things up and had touches on blocks and swinging well. It was a great match.”

Also knowing that Osage has so many tough hitters – the Green Devils combined for 35 kills spread among six different attackers and none with less than four – Vaughan said she commended her back row for working hard.

“With a strong hit, it’s hard to pick up at any level,” Vaughan said. “The ball is flying to the ground, so our girls got touches, were reaching, picking them up, the active communication and knowing where they need to be on the court, that helps. Of course, some of those stronger hits…Our serve receive was great, our passing was strong against the stronger serves, too.”

The Warhawks managed 15 digs off of the Green Devil attack, led by Maddie Hubka’s seven. Emma Martinek led the West Fork attack with four kills, getting two of them early in the first set. She added a pair of push-kills in the second and third that were rare moments of catching Osage off-guard.

In the third and final set, there was some confusion when Osage got out of rotation, but West Fork did, also.

“Osage was out of rotation and then it came to back to us and we got out of rotation,” Vaughan said. “It started with confusion and built into a bigger confusion and came back around. We got it, but that would be confusing for anyone. I was confused a little bit.”

During that span, twice the Warhawks were tied with Osage at 2-all and 3-all before the Green Devils started to pull away. West Fork did have a three-point swing in which Martinek scored one of her push kills, Hubka served up an ace and an Osage attack error pulled the Warhawks to within 15-9, but it was all the visitors the rest of the way.

West Fork went to 3-9 overall, 1-5 in the TIC East.

“We’ve improved so much from that very first match,” Vaughan said, “and if we can keep on improving and moving forward through the rest of our five matches.”

Osage 25-25-25

West Fork 8-10-13

Kills– O (Kaebre Sullivan 9, Dani Johnson 8, Paige Kisley 5, Meredith Street 5, Samantha Brandau 4, Claudia Aschenbrenner 4); WF (Emma Martinek 4, Kalli Trewin 3, Madisyn Bonner 2, Keelee Sheriff). Blocks– O (Aschenbrenner 2, Ellie Bobinet, Sullivan, Meredith Street, Brandau); WF, None. Assists– O (Bobinet 23, Addy Grimm 9, Street, Victoria Schwarting); WF (Grace Willms 4, Sadie Latham 4). Digs– O (Johnson 7, Kisley 6, Jaden Francis 2, Bobinet 2, Sullivan 2, Schwarting 2, Summer Collins 2, Street, Grimm, Aschenbrenner, Ainsley Dodd); WF (Maddie Hubka 7, Willms 3, Breckyn Dickman 2, Haley Grady 2, Latham). Serving– O (Dodd 4-4, ace; Schwarting 4-4; Street 1-1; Johnson 15-16, 2 aces; Kisley 18-21, 4 aces; Sullivan 5-6, ace; Bobinet 10-13, 2 aces; Grimm 3-4, ace); WF (Hubka 5-5, ace; Grady 4-4; Latham 6-7, ace; Bonner 4-6, 2 aces; Willms 2-3, ace; Trewin 3-5, ace).