by Kent Harshbarger

Bullettes grab second at Danville Tourney
By Kent Harshbarger

The Mediapolis Bullettes grabbed second place at the Danville Invitational Varsity Volleyball Tournament on September 4. The Bullettes cruised through pool play undefeated and then swept Danville (21-7, 21-12) in quarterfinals and Keokuk (21-8, 21-9) in the semi finals, before losing to Keota (21-16, 21-17) in the finals.

"We played five pretty good matches and then one not so good. Keota is ranked eighth in class 1A and had one really good girl in the middle. She is a division prospect and Iowa State is already looking at her. She came out and hit one that bounced off the floor almost to the roof. That seemed to intimidate us," Mediapolis head coach Dennis Jandrey said.

He was disappointed in the final match. "We were a little intimidated, but she was only in the front row for three rotations. We quit moving our feet. We just have to learn to finalize stuff. We were pretty good for five matches. It was a disappointing way to end a good day," Jandrey said.

The Bullettes started the day by sweeping Cardinal (21-10, 21-10) in pool play. Kami Keller led the offense with five kills. Emily Kester contributed 15 assists. Kester, Aurey Kramer and Bethany Weber each had aces. Defensively, Weber had 3.5 blocks and Kester three while Amber Scott, Brittny Wagenbach and Keller had three digs each.
In the second round of pool play, the Bullettes topped Keokuk (21-16, 21-4). Weber and Lydia Ertz each recorded four kills with Kester adding 11 more assists. Monica Holsteen and Weber contributed two aces each from the service line. Weber led in blocks with three while Kramer, and Holsteen each came up with three digs in the win over the Chiefs.
Mepo stayed unbeaten for the day by sweeping Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division opponent Highland (21-15, 21-17) in the third round of pool play. Ertz with four kills and Marissa Dideriksen with three ace serves led the offense in the win over the Huskies. Kester contributed seven assists. Weber led in blocks with seven and Wagenbach in digs with three.

In the win over Danville in the quarterfinals of bracketed play, Ertz pounded out eight kills and Kester had 12 assists. Dideriksen and Scott each had an ace serve. Scott and Dideriksen registered three digs in the win over the Bears.
In their second meeting with Keokuk, this time in the semi finals, the Bullettes again dominated the Chiefs. Keller and Kester led the semi finals win with five kills and 10 assists respectively. Kester, Scott and Dideriksen each had an ace. Scott and Jesika McLaughlin led in blocks with three each and Wagenbach and Kester led in digs with three apiece.
In the loss in the finals to Keota, Weber notched five kills and Keller four. Kester set for 15 kills in the two game match. Weber also led in blocks with 3.5 and Wagenbach had four dugs and Ertz three.

The strong performance boosted the Bullettes match record to 5-2 and their games' mark improved to 12-4.
Danville Tournament

Kills ­ Keller 19, Weber 20, Ertz 23, Scott 2, Dideriksen 5, Kramer 1, Wagenbach 3, McLaughlin 10, Holsteen 1, TEAM TOTAL 84.

Assists ­ Kester 70, Scott 2, Dideriksen 1, Keller 1, McLaughlin 1, TEAM TOTAL 75.
Aces- Scott 3, Kramer 2, Weber 5, Kester 4, Dideriksen 6, Holsteen 3, TEAM TOTAL 23.
Blocks ­ Weber 19, Kester 11, Scott 7.5, McLaughlin 7.5, Ertz 1.5, TEAM TOTAL- 46.5.
Digs ­ Scott 13, Kramer 8, Weber 4, Wagenbach 14, Kester 9, McLaughlin 1, Keller 7, Ertz 4, Dideriksen 10, Petersen 1, Holsteen 7, TEAM TOTAL ­ 78.

Bullettes' Record: All (Matches 5-2, Games 12-4), Division (Matches 0-1, Games 2-3).