Bobcats second at GPSD

From: Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA
Oct. 12, 2002

Iowa School for the Deaf came away with second place in the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf volleyball tournament Friday and Saturday in the Lied Center on the ISD campus.

Though ISD fell to Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in the championship match 15-13, 3-15, 1-15, 4-15, they acheived playing in the championship match for the first time in 10 years.

"The girls never gave up," said ISD coach Karen Lechner. "They tried hard for every point. Sometimes they didn't control the ball or their bodies as well as they should have, or cover the court as much as needed. However, they played very well over all, and I'm proud of their accomplishments."

Sarah Young-Bear Brown, Jada Hart and Katie Romey made the all-tournament team. Brown had one ace-serve, two kills, and 16 digs; Hart had one ace-serve, five set assists, three kills, nine digs, and two blocks; and Romey had two ace-serves, 11 set assists, nine kills, seven digs, and five blocks. Junior Karen Ruckman also had a good showing with 37 set assists, 20-of-20 serving with two aces, one kill, and four digs.

"Jada, Sarah, and Katie stepped up to lead the team," said Lechner. "I'm proud of those girls' efforts and their making the all-tournament team. Karen Ruckman, though she didn't make the all-tournament team, played an outstanding tournament as our setter. The whole team played well, and every one of the ten girls on the tournament roster saw some playing time."

It was the second meeting for the two schools on the day and third in a week.

Minnesota, who ruined the Bobcats homecoming last weekend, earned a tough 13-15, 15-3, 15-1, 15-4 win over ISD during pool play early Saturday.

In other action during the tournament, Kansas School for the Deaf dropped Missouri Deaf 9-15, 15-7, 12-15, 15-11, 16-14.

Missouri avenged the early-morning loss by taking the consolation match over KSD 15-6, 11-15, 15-11, 5-15, 15-13.

Iowa School for the Deaf: Serving: Randi Rodriquez 2-2 (1 ace), Jada Hart 10-12 (1), Sarah Young-Bear Brown 9-10 (1), Karen Ruckman 20-20 (2), Cassandra Case 12-14 (1), Katie Romey 9-14 (2), Amanda Moon 6-8 (2), Erin Huntrods 6-8. Set Assists: Rodriquez 4, Hart 5, Ruckman 37, Romey 11. Kills: Hart 3, Young-Bear 2, Ruckman 1, Case 2, Romey 9, Huntrods 3. Digs: Hart 9, Young-Bear 16, Ruckman 4, Case 1, Romey 7, Huntrods 3. Blocks: Hart 2, Romey 5.

Records: I.S.D. (6-9), Minnesota (N/A), Kansas (N/A), Missouri (N/A).

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