West Fork volleyball sweeps Rockford, falls to Northwood-Kensett

Even though the season has started a little slow for the West Fork volleyball team, the Warhawks have been relatively competitive – only having been swept once so far this season. While West Fork split their allotted matches this past week, the Warhawks have potential to become a dangerous squad over the course of the autumn campaign.

The Warhawks started off the week with a 3-0 victory over Rockford on August 31 at the West Fork High School Gymnasium in Sheffield, before coming up short in a thrilling 3-2 match against Northwood-Kensett, which took place on Sept. 2 at the Northwood-Kensett High School Gymnasium in Northwood.

In the match against the Vikings, the Warhawks forced a fifth game, but came up short in a narrow 15-12 result.

Going into the weekend, the Warhawks shifted to a 2-4 overall record and 1-1 within the Top of Iowa Conference’s eastern division.

Warhawks welcomed in Newman Catholic of Mason City for a Top of Iowa Conference-East matchup, held this past Tuesday at the West Fork High School Gymnasium in Sheffield. West Fork will then prepare for the Belmond-Klemme Tournament, set to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday in Belmond.

Results from the league match and weekend tournament will be reported in an upcoming edition of The Pioneer-Enterprise/the Sheffield Press.

West Fork 3, Rockford 0: Welcoming in the Warriors, the Warhawks started fast and finished strong in a Top of Iowa Conference-East matchup held on August 31 at the West Fork High School Gym in Sheffield.

The Warhawks defeated the Warriors 25-21 in the first set, followed by a 25-18 victory in the second set. West Fork then completed the sweep with a 25-12 thumping of Rockford.

Sophomore Kaylie Lundt was the driving force behind West Fork, accumulating 15 assists, five digs, two service aces and one kill. Junior Emma Martinek punished the Warriors with seven kills and seven blocks, as senior Kalli Trewin went multidimensional with seven kills, six blocks, one ace and one dig.

Senior Madisyn Bonner was solid, turning in eight kills, one ace and one dig, followed by junior Keelee Sheriff’s two kills and one block and teammate Ellie Weaver’s six digs and two kills.

Sophomore Breckyn Dickman contributed with three digs and one ace, as senior Maddie Hubka picked up five digs. Senior Haley Grady had two digs and one ace and teammate Mya Braun left the match with one kill.

Northwood-Kensett 3, West Fork 2: In a proverbial thriller, the Warhawks came close, but fell short of defeating the Vikings on Sept. 2 at the Northwood-Kensett High School Gym in Northwood.

Searching for their first win of the season, the Vikings started the match with a 25-17 win. The Warhawks countered, equalizing the match with a 25-14 victory.

The momentum swung back to Northwood-Kensett, who took a 25-18 win in the third set. West Fork then sent the match into its fifth set, winning the fourth set with a 25-18 result.

The Warhawks came close to capturing their second straight win, but fell short in a 15-12 decision in the final game.

Weaver paced West Fork with 13 assists, five digs and three aces, as Braun put together five digs, three kills, three service aces and one block. Sheriff led the Warhawks’ offense with nine kills.

Trewin fared well, with four kills, two blocks, one ace and one dig, followed by Dickman’s 10 digs and one assist. Hubka also reeled in 10 digs, and Martinek came away with seven kills.

Bonner turned in three kills and one dig, followed by Grady’s two digs. Sophomore Mallery Meier rounded out the stats sheet with one service ace.