Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – Outside hitter, middle hitter, setter or backrow. Name as spot on the volleyball court Liberty High seemingly has stockpile of talent at each one.

The Lightning put that talented depth on full display on Tuesday.

Nine different players had a kill as Class 5A ninth-ranked Liberty High remained unbeaten with a 25-15, 25-11, 25-13 sweep of West High (0-5) in a Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division matchup at Liberty High.

“It is a luxury, it is nice to have that problem of having to see how to fit them all in,” Liberty High coach Randy Dolson said of his team’s balance. “We have some talent and we fit them in where we can.”

Freshman Cassidy Hartmann had a match-high eight kills to lead four players with at least five kills for Liberty High (6-0).

Liberty High recorded 18 ace serves on Tuesday and was efficient in every phase while winning its sixth consecutive match in straight sets.

“It’s amazing because everyone can come in and do their job,” Liberty High senior Rylee Fay said. “We have a lot of hitters and lot of back row players. We are pretty complete all the way around.”

Fay had seven of the Lightning’s 18 aces on Tuesday and along with fellow setter Hailey Hested had the Liberty High attack humming from the opening serve.

Senior LeeAnn Potter and Sydney Woods each had six kills on and Shelby Kimm added five as Liberty High finished with a 32-13 edge in kills.

“We are off to a good start, we are as deep as we have ever been,” Dolson said. “I probably didn’t expect to run a 6-2 going into the season but we are putting the team first and a lot of girls know that is what we need to do to be successful we have too many good hitters to leave them on the bench.”

Liberty High broke open an 8-8 tie in the opening set with a 6-0 spurt that featured a pair of ace serves from Woods and kills from three different players.

The Lightning would never trail again in the match.

“It’s awesome because we have so many people that we can throw in there,” Woods said. “If someone isn’t passing well or hitting well we have someone that can go in and pick it up.”

Everyone in the Liberty High attack got into the act on the attack and at the service line.

Seven different players had an ace as Woods had five and Potter and Fay each added two.

“There is no doubt that serving and passing can take a team out of their offense and score you points,” Dolson said. “I only had us missing four or five serves at the most.”

Liberty High bolted to a 6-0 lead in the second set behind a pair of ace serves from Fay and never let West High get closer than four points.

It was more of the same in the third set as the Lightning jumped to a 7-0 lead and led 21-7 before substituting freely.

Freshman Hartman and Kimm provide a boost in the middle while returning hitters Potter and Woods provide the punch on the outside.

The depth makes the Lightning a nightmare to defend.

“I think it’s really tough to defend,” Hartman said. “Our setters are really good and can set anywhere and we have a lot of hitters that can hit a lot of spots.”

McKenna Proud had six kills to lead West High which dropped its fourth match to a ranked opponent.

Liberty High   25  25  25

West High      15  11  13

Liberty High (Kills-aces-blocks)

Addie Schmeier 0-1-0, Lauren Roman 1-0-0, Sam Harvey 2-0-1, Rylee Fay 2-7-0, Sydney Woods 6-5-0, LeeAnn Potter 5-2-0, Hailey Hested 1-1-0, Jordyn Stammeyer 1-0-0, Shelby Kimm 5-0-0, Cassidy Hartman 8-1-1, Team 32-18-2.

Assists – Rylee Fay 15, Hailey Hested 7

West High (Kills-aces-blocks)

Natalie Young 3-0-0, Madison Kiersch 1-1-0, Misha Canin 1-0-2, Ryann Culver 0-1-0, Raina Pfeifer 1-0-0, Isabelle Paulsen 1-0-0, McKenna Proud 6-0-0, Team 13-2-2.

Assists – Kearsten Lenth 7, Emma Dunlap 2

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