North Putnam Cougars cruise to 3-1 win at Riverton Parke

North Putnam senior Madi Asbell elevates to deliver a powerful spike in the second set at Riverton Parke on Monday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

MONTEZUMA -- The North Putnam volleyball team entered the season with expectations and a relatively comfortable win in their season opener at Riverton Parke seemed to only justify them. With how the Cougars started the night, an eventual three sets to one win, it seemed like it might not come as easy as the girls hoped.

North Putnam trailed 10-4 in the first set and seemed to be losing confidence when new head coach Brandy Dickson called a timeout.

"I've coached all these girls since middle school and I've seen them all come back," Dickson said. "I just told them to refocus and do what we do in practice."

The reassurance worked as the Cougars quickly fought back. After a side-out by the Panthers, senior Madi Asbell delivered NPHS its first service ace of the year and the Cougars got right back in the match.

Later in the first set the Cougars scored three-straight points on serves by senior Kelsey Reed and seven straight with sophomore Taylor Nauert serving before closing out the set 25-21.

North Putnam dominated set two, winning 25-13, and seemed on the brink of closing out a quick win before succumbing to its own confidence. Reed put together another nice rally serving in the third set but the Cougars were sloppy throughout and lost 25-18.

A bit of levity on the bench and in the crowd after the third set refocused NPHS and the Cougars came out on fire as they prepared to close out the match. The serving of Nauert (early) and Reed (late) seemed to devastate the Panthers' psyche. Tied 15-15, Reed closed out the match with 10 straight points, including three aces and a pair of kills by Nauert.

Nauert was a force at the net, producing 17 kills and 13 blocks (eight solo), but she had plenty of help up front. Sophomore Adri Millican had six kills Asbell had seven. Nauert led NPHS with five assists and senior Bethany Wiatt had 10 digs.

Dickson also pointed to the defense and passing of sophomore Reagan Bowling as being a big key.

"I was really proud of the focus and energy we had tonight," Dickson said. "This team has a lot of versatility and I hope they see that can be a huge advantage for us this season. I feel really good about the efforts these girls have made to push each other to improve and set team goals together."

The Cougars' dominant performance against the Panthers had several highlights, including:

Kelsey Reed's serving.
Reed was dominant every time she toed the back line. She mixed in a couple different types of serves and kept the Panthers off balance and Dickson said she is a master at knowing which player to attack.

"I want them to call their serves or have their teammates call their serves, rather than it coming from the bench," Dickson said.

Reed and Nauert led the Cougars' servers, but Madi Asbell could develop into another force.
Asbell rips her serves with a heavy topspin and dares the other team to hit them. The serves occasionally sail, but when they're on target they eat up the opponent. In the second set Asbell ripped one that got deep into the body of one of Riverton Parke's top players, junior Rachel Austin, bouncing off with a deep thud.

While their focused waned in and out, the Cougars had a significant athletic advantage.
NPHS seemed a step slow last season but this year's squad is tall, quick and powerful. Almost the entire roster is capable of sliding around the court or leaping for an attack. Dickson said the team worked religiously during the summer, putting time in the weight room and trying to improve on what had been a weakness in the past.

"They worked their butts off this summer to be in the gym and be in the weight room," she said. "I'm really just trying to get them to step out of their comfort zone."

North Putnam's next game is Thursday when the Cougars host Covenant Christian at 7:15 p.m.

Senior Bethany Wiatt goes up to close out the match at Riverton Parke as her teammates celebrate on the sideline. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

At Riverton Parke
...........................1.....2.....3.....4
N. Putnam....25.....25.....18.....25
Riv. Pk.........21.....13.....25.....15