NWC defeats Reardan in straight sets

REARDAN - The Screaming Eagles’ volleyball team started the 2024 season with a bang, winning seven of their first eight games. Since then, they have dropped six of the last nine. On Saturday, Oct. 19, they hosted 8-1 Northwest Christian hoping to knock off one of the top teams in the NE2B league. That didn’t happen as the Crusaders won in straight set, 25-15, 25-22, 25-20.

Early in the first set, Reardan went toe-to-toe with NWC. Front row players Emersen Sprecher, Raegan Soliday and Kaylynn Clouse dominated the net scoring points on kill shots on eight of the Screaming Eagles’ first nine points.

After knotting the game at 9-9, the Crusaders scored seven straight points and pulled away, eventually winning the first set 25-15.

The Screaming Eagles jumped all over Freeman at the start of the second set, mostly because of Sprecher controlling the net with her strong spikes. Reardan led 11-3 and 16-10, but Freeman went on a nine point run to take a 19-16 lead. The Screaming Eagles couldn’t close the gap and lost the set 25-22.

In the last set, the teams were tied 7-7 before the Crusaders reeled off six unanswered points. They cruised to the 25-20 win, giving them a three set match win.

Sprecher led Reardan with 10 kills, followed by Clouse with six and Soliday with five. Cheyanne Valitalo recorded four blocks. Kelsey Koch led her team in digs, with four.

Kaitlyn Waters led NWC with 12 kills. Chlarice Carey and Lauren Matthews had 12 and 10 assists, respectively.

“I thought we played really good,” Soliday said. “We just need to move our feet and get to the ball. I thought we blocked pretty well but need to work on that too. In order to improve we need to focus more on the next play and not get down on ourselves.”

“I think that we fought really hard, but they just beat us,” Reardan head coach Elise McCammonds said. “Sometimes teams just know what they’re doing.”

“We played fairly well tonight but Reardan has some great hitters,” NWC head coach Dave Whitehead said. “That number two (Sprecher) is going to be a stud. She is really good.”

With the win NWC improved to 15-3-2-7 for the season and 9-1 in league play. Reardan dropped to 10-7 and 7-4.

The Screaming Eagles play their last league two games Thursday, Oct. 24, against Liberty and at Davenport Tuesday, Oct. 29.