Iowa Deaf second at Great Plains tournament

From: Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA - Oct 14, 2003

FAIRBAULT, Minn. - The Iowa School for the Deaf volleyball team took the runner-up trophy at the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Tournament over the weekend.

The Bobcats moved into the championship match on Saturday before being swept by Minnesota School for the Deaf 21-10, 21-15, 21-13, giving them a second-place finish for the second year in a row.

"Their quickness and good serving beat us," Iowa Deaf coach Karen Lechner said of MSD. "The better team won, and I give them credit."

Lechner added that the Bobcats played well against Minnesota Deaf despite the loss.

"I am very proud of the way the girls held in with their competitiveness and their desire to win," Lechner said.

The Bobcats reached the championship match by topping Kansas Deaf in an 18-21, 16-21, 21-6, 21-11, 15-9 thriller of a semifinal.

Karen Ruckman had four ace serves and 39 set assists, Katie Romey had three aces, eight kills and eight digs and Cassandra Case was 14-for-15 serving with a pair of aces and nine digs to pace the Bobcats in the win.

Iowa Deaf 18 16 21 21 15

Kansas Deaf 21 21 6 11 9

Iowa Deaf: Serving: Karen Ruckman 17-19 (4 aces), Cassandra Case 14-15 (2), Katie Romey 10-14 (3), Liz Gramblin 11-12 (2), Meredith Kasal 12-15 (2), Jada Hart 14-15 (2), Erin Huntrods 1-2. Set Assists: Ruckman 39. Kills: Case 2, Romey 8, Hart 3. Digs: Ruckman 6, Case 9, Romey 8, Gramblin 2, Kasal 2, Hart 9. Blocks: Romey 2, Hart 2.

* * * * *

Iowa Deaf 10 15 13

Minnesota Deaf 21 21 21

Iowa Deaf: Serving: Ruckman 7-8 (1), Case 8-8, Romey 4-6 (1), Gramblin 4-5 (1), Amanda Moon 5-6, Hart 5-6. Set Assists: Ruckman 16. Kills: Romey 1, Hart 1. Digs: Ruckman 4, Case 2, Romey 2, Gramblin 4, Moon 4, Hart 8, Kasal 2. Blocks: Romey 2, Hart 1.

Records: Iowa Deaf (4-4, 10-7).

©Daily Nonpareil 2003