Moulton Volleyball Sweeps Nokomis

JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor

After being swept by Clinton on opening day, the Moulton Ram 7th and 8th both played with more confidence on Tuesday and defended their home court against Nokomis. Ram 7th won, 25-14, 25-18, while Ram 8th dropped game one, then charged back behind their servers to bowl over Nokomis in a 3-game set, 20-25, 25-12, 25-8.

"The girls played a little more at ease," said Ram 7th coach Stephenie Shoaff. "They served tough and that was the key to this win. I would still like for our transition to be much faster and our girls to be more confident passing on serve receive. But, hopefully as the season progresses we will improve in those areas."

In game one, the two teams went back and forth for a few points, until Haley Eisenbarth went to the line for Shelby at 5-5. She served five straight points with the first three points aces. She served another ace and Shelby was up 10-5. Alex Johnston killed from the second row and Boone served an ace. Nokomis called time-out at 13-5 and broke serve.

At 14-9 Molly Yockey got a kill and Rachel Fox served an ace. A great rally ensued, but Johnston ended it with a kill. Fox served another ace, then followed it up with an "acial" (an ace off a players face), 20-9. After a side-out, Eisenbarth swung for the kill. Three points later, Eisenbarth powered a shot from the second row for a kill. Boone had a dig for a score, then on game point, Madison Dove came in to serve at the end of game one and served an ace for the win.

Game two was all Moulton. Johnston started the game 3-0. Fox killed after a side-out. At 6-2, Eisenbarth came back to the line. She started with an ace and served a short run, 10-2. After a side-out, Towne came back to serve. She served two points then served five straight aces. Nokomis scored a few points, then Fox forced a 2-hit when her shot ate up the Nokomis player at the net.

Madison Dove came to the line for another short run, including one ace, 22-7. Coach Shoaff gave a host of substitutes some floor time and Nokomis eight straight points. At 22-15 Coach Shoaff called time. The momentum was gone, but back and forth took it to match point. Nokomis served, but Eisenbarth came up from the second row and slammed a free ball for the match.

7th

Moulton def. Nokomis, 25-14, 25-18

Ram stats: Haley Eisenbarth 11 points, 5 aces, 1 assist, 4 kills; Rachel Fox 8 points 4 aces, 2 assists, 1 kill; Madison Towne 8 points, 2 aces; Madison Dove 8 points, 3 aces; Alex Johnston 5 points, 1 ace, 2 kills; Madison Boone 3 points, 1 ace; Molly Yockey 1 point, 2 assists; Peighton Donel 2 points; Sadie Spears 2 points; Caitlyn Killam 1 point; Dallas Foor 1 block; Jami Hennings 1 kill; Destiny Langston 1 point.

In the 8th grade match, Moulton had some mistakes that coast them game, one but they came back decisively for the runaway 3-game win.

"We looked much better as a team," said Ram 8th coach Brittany Pierce. "We were rid of our first game jitters. We came out too timid in the first game and didn't take it to Nokomis as much as we should have. We had too many service errors and did not control our side of the net. Things really picked up in games 2 and 3. We started playing our game and having fun.

"Julia Bolinger had an awesome serving run to put us on a roll in game 2. We took it and ran with it from there. In game 3, Lindsey Eigsti served 16 straight points to finish off the match, which was very impressive. It was a great team effort with all of the girls contributing in some way. I am very proud of all of them."

8th grade went back and forth with Nokomis, then the Redskins went on a short run, 9-5. The Rams scored single points, then Brandy Smith got a free tip to give Eigsti the serve. She served an ace, tied the score and Nokomis called time-out. Eigsti served another ace for the lead, before the back and forth started again. Kayla Brachbill served and got Shelby a 14-12 lead. Mykennah Allen won a tip battle for a 15-13 lead, but ti was more back and forth.

A rotation violation at the serving line interupted a Ram point and seemd to poison the momentum. Nokomis served a short ace and got the advantage at 20-17. Morgan Lawrence got kill, but couldn't get a run. Nokomis finished the game out with inconsistent play on both sides.

Game 2 started out like it would be a Nokomis rout, 5-1. But, the tide changed quickly when Bolinger came to the line. She served an ace. Nokomis made three unforced errors, then Bolinger served three more aces in a row. Nokmis called time to try to break serve, but it didn't work. After the pause Bolinger served another ace, then Lawrence swung for the kill, 11-5.

Back and forth got it to 13-8, then Brachbill slammed a cross-court kill. Allen dug a ball over, causing a Nokomis lift. Smith swung for a kill, 18-10. Brachbill got the ball and served a short run, starting with ace and ending with a Smith kill, 22-12. After a Nokomis service error, Bolinger was back at the line. Three serves later the match was tied, 25-12.

Game 3 started out competitive with ties on 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4. 6-6, and 7-7. Lawrence served an ace for a 9-7 lead. After alternating side-outs, Eigsti came to the line at 10-8. Game Over! Eigsti served out the game for the match.

On the first point of the run, Smith rose to frustrate a Nokomis tip attempt. Then Eigsti served an ace and Smith got a free ball stuff, making it 13-8 and bringing a Nokomis time-out, to no avail. Eigsti then served six straight aces, 19-8. Smith scored on an overhead, then Eigsti served a short ace. The next serve ended up hitting the rafters on the pass. Nokomis killed in the net and Eigsti serve another ace to bring game and match point. A slamming free ball kill by Smith punctuated the decisive come victory.

8th

Ram stats: Lindsey Eigsti 24 points, 11 aces, 9 assists; Julia Bolinger 14 points, 5 aces; Kayla Brachbill 10 points, 1 ace, 2 kills, 1 block; Morgan

Lawrence 8 points, 1 ace, 5 kills; Briana Ruff 5 points, 1 assist; Mykennah Allen 5 points, 3 kills; Brandy Smith 1 point, 4 kills; Jensen Cloe 1 point, 1 kill; Alexis Halbrook 1 point, 1 kill.

Moulton def. Nokomis, 20-25, 25-12, 25-8

Moulton 7th (1-1) and 8th (1-1) go on the road for three matches. They play at Pana on Thursday, at Mt. Zion on Friday, and at Central A&M; on Monday. Pana 7th won in 3 over A&M; last week and A&M; 8th won over Pana in 3.

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