Falcons Finish Sets Strong to Defeat Lady Eagles in Four Sets

Almost an entire month after they played their first set of volleyball in the fall 2022 season, the Lady Eagles finally got to play on their home court against Freeman on Thursday, September 22. On the first of September, the Eagles defeated the Falcons two sets to one in the Freeman tournament.

Set 1

The second meeting between the two schools was tight the entire way, starting with the beginning of the first set. The Lady Eagles and the Falcons were tied 3-3, but the Falcons scored the next two points to take a 5-3 lead.

Sophomore Taryn Ottemann flipped the lead when she recorded back-to-back blocks, followed by back-to-back kills to put the Lady Eagles up 7-5. Another kill from Anna Lillenas made it 9-6.

Once the Lady Eagles got ahead by a few points, they paced the majority of the set. Brooklyn Behrends, Natalie Knippelmeyer, Brooklyn Buchmeier, Natalie Clark, Halle Rasmussen, and Ottemann all sprinkled in kills leading to a 23-21 advantage for Johnson-Brock and forcing a Freeman timeout.

Out of the break, the Falcons took the next two points and tied the set at 23 apiece. A service Error from either time made it 24 apiece. The Falcons gained the advantage a twice and capitalized second time, taking the first set by a score of 27-25.

Set 2

Johnson-Brock claimed the fist three points of the second set, but the Falcons took the next two. Kills from Clark, Ottemann, Buchmeier and Rasmussen, plus a service ace from Kolbi Davis forced another Falcon timeout as the Lady Eagles gained a 12-8 advantage.

Later in the set, the Falcons got within a point of the Lady Eagles at 17-16, but two consecutive kills from Ottemann and Behrends put the Eagles back up by three points.

As match point was almost within reach for the Lady Eagles, Freeman again tied the set up at 23 points apiece, and again at 24 apiece. Fortune turned toward the Lady Eagles at the end of the set as they took a 25-24 lead and Ottemann ended the set with a block. Johnson-Brock tied the match up 1-1 with a 26-24 win in set two.

Set 3

Natalie Clark gave the Lady Eagles two points early in the second set with a block and a kill on consecutive points.

Down 6-7, Johnson-Brock went on a three point run including two service aces courtesy of Rasmussen which put the Lady Eagles ahead 10-8.

The Falcons tied the set up at 11 apiece and eventually took a 15-14 lead, which they kept for the remainder of the set. The third set, though still relatively close, was the biggest separation that either team would get. Freeman went on to win the set 25-17.

Set 4

An Ottemann kill broke an early 5-5 tie in favor of Johnson-Brock, which turned into a 9-5 Lady Eagle lead. Late in the set, Natalie Knippelmeyer added back-to-back points on a block ad a kill, but the Falcons responded with the next three points resulting in a 15-14 Johnson-Brock lead. A few more kills from Ottemann along with service aces from Buchmeier and Rasmussen put the Eagles ahead 21-18.

In a similar situation as the first two sets, the Falcons took control late in set four, winning it 25-22 and defeating Johnson- Brock in four sets. After the loss to Freeman, the Lady Eagles dropped to 9-7 on the season.

Score by set Johnson-Brock 25-26-17-22--1 Freeman 27-24-25-25--3 Stats Against Freeman Kills: Taryn Ottemann 10; Natalie Knippelmeyer 10; Halle Rasmussen 6; Anna Lillenas and Natalie Clark 5; Brooklyn Behrends 3; Olivia Nichols 2; Brooklyn Buchmeier 1.

Digs: Chloe Vice 18, Kolbi Davis 11; Buchmeier 10; Nichols 9; Rasmussen 8; Ottemann 3; Lillenas, Behrends, and Clark 2; Knippelmeyer 1.