Cardinals fall in second round of Class 3A - Region 4 tournament

(Above) Senior Mackenzie Van Gerpen has been a powerful player on the GHV volleyball team this season.  Van Gerpen ended the night with 13 kills and 18 digs.  -Reporter photos by Chris Barragy

It was a competitive night of volleyball when the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura (18-10) volleyball team traveled to Forest City to face Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (18-15) in the second round of Class 3A - Region 4 tournament action.  The Cardinals had defeated Hampton-Dumont (13-16), 3-0, last week to advance.  C-G-D upset Forest City (24-6), 3-2, to earn their berth in the tournament.

The Cardinals opened strong in the first game against the C-G-D and pulled off a narrow, 26-24 victory.  The next three games went to the Cowgirls, 25-19, 25-13 and 25-20.

“The girls finished their season playing competitive volleyball,” said Coach Kelsey Steffens.  “While it’s aways tough to end a season, the girls have much to be proud of this year.”

Hannah Lau and Mackenzie Van Gerpen led the team at the net with 15 and 13 kills respectively.  Carlie Knutson knocked down six kills, while Jackie Van Oort had four kills.  Taylor Gerdes contributed two kills.

Lau had three blocks and Lydia Seelhammer blocked two shots.  Knutson, Van Oort and Van Gerpen each had one block.

Knutson led the team on defense with 20 digs.  Van Oort and Van Gerpen each had 18 digs, while Lau had 10.

Lydia Seelhammer did the setting for the night and she had 32 assists.

“The girls continued to improve throughout the year and together they became a cohesive team,” said Steffens.

The Cardinals will say goodbye to seven seniors, Knutson, Katelyn Wilson, Seelhammer, Van Gerpen, Lau, Katelyn Bierle and Federica Monteleone.