LHS Sweeps Field at Boys Town Quad (9-3-11)

Consistent, focused team play led the Louisville Lions to three sweeps over Tekamah Herman, Clarinda Academy and the host Cowboys in volleyball action at the Boys Town Tournament Saturday. The Lions did not drop a set in route to the tournament title.

Louisville played what would prove to be their closest match in the 9:00 a.m. opener against Tekamah Herman, sweeping the Tigers 25-20, 25-18. Natalie Minchow powered the offensive attack with eight kills, followed by Samantha Lane and Tori Dean with 5 and 4, respectively.

The cavernous Palrang Field House provides a serving challenge to visiting teams but the Lions were not deterred and hit a blistering 98% serving average in the match and 94% for the tournament connecting on 141 of 151 tosses.

"Our goal was to serve 90% or higher and we did that," said a pleased Marge Davenport, head coach of the Lions. "“We played with intensity and focus...this was a good tournament to win."

In second round action, Louisville dominated Clarinda Academy, defeating the outmanned Eagles, 25-6, 25-3. The Lions scored more than half of their points from the service line and did not navigate a complete rotation in either set. Sophomore McKenna Zahn served 16 straight to end the set and match.

Louisville swept Boys Town 25-17, 25-18 in the final contest. Minchow and Lane shared hitting honors connecting on four kills at the net. Minchow and Madison Shepard combined for 14 assists in the final match.

Louisville, now 4-1 on the season, have a few days rest before traveling to the Malcolm Invite on Thursday where they open pool play with back-to-back matches against Milford and Fort Calhoun beginning at 5:00..

Tekamah-Herman (kills-aces-blocks): B. Bowman 7-0-2, J. Crowels 6-0-0, A. Spaulding 1-1-0, B. Thomas 1-0-0
Louisville (kills-aces-blocks): S. Lane 5-0-1, M. Zahn 0-1-0, T. Dean 4-2-0,
M. Shepard 0-1-0, M. Poland 0-0-0, N. Minchow 8-1-1, M. Dittberner 1-2-0,
H. Rose 1-1-0
Set assists: Shepard (9), Minchow (5)

Louisville (kills-aces-blocks): S. Lane 2-0-0, M. Zahn 0-11-0, T. Dean 0-0-0,
M. Shepard 0-4-0, M. Poland 0-0-0, J. Marcoe 1-0-0, N. Minchow 1-7-0, M. Dittberner 1-2-0, M. Bauers 0-0-0, H. Rose 0-0-0, S. Dillon 1-1-0
Set assists: Shepard (3), Minchow (3)

Boys Town (kills-aces-blocks): B. Jeanetta 3-1-0, K. Wolf 0-1-0, L. Wiggs 2-2-0, P. Keefe 0-0-1, J. Williams 0-1-0, S. Fagan 1-0-0
Louisville (kills-aces-blocks): S. Lane 4-1-1, M. Zahn 0-2-0, T. Dean 3-1-0,
M. Shepard 1-2-0, M. Poland 0-0-0, N. Minchow 4-2-1, M. Dittberner 3-0-0,
H. Rose 0-0-0
Set assists: Shepard (7), Minchow (7)

Statistics are unofficial.