NP impresses in set sweep over Warriors

Friday, August 30, 2013
North Putnam sophomore Adri Millican goes up for a kill during the first set against Turkey Run on Thursday. Millican and the Cougars beat the Warriors in straight sets. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam Cougars volleyball team welcomed the Turkey Run Warriors to their home court and absolutely dominated the visiting team with a barrage of serving and teamwork getting the sweep 25-16, 25-8, and 25-18.

"We needed this win tonight because we are going to lose a couple players over the next couple weeks due to injuries," North Putnam head coach Brandy Dickson said.

The Cougars got off to a hot start in the first set, building the lead to 5-1, 14-7, and 20-11 at times. The Warriors never really had much of a chance in this one as the Cougars wrapped up the set one victory in a matter of minutes.

"We needed to try a few different lineups tonight and put a few different people in different spots," Dickson said.

Cougar sophomore Taylor Nauert really turned it on in the first set after a couple down nights (to her standards), and had an astonishing seven kills in the first set.

The focal point of the second set was the serving. Senior Madi Asbell rattled off nine straight serves with four aces, Nauert had seven straight points with one ace.

"Our serving definitely kept things going for us," Dickson said. "I have been very proud of our serving all year, rarely we miss serves at key points in the game."

Closing out the set was senior Bethany Wiatt with four straight points and Nauert with a kill over the net into the throat of the defense for the 25-8 victory.

Once again serving was a key to victory in the third set.

"I think we have been serving tough all year," Dickson said.

The Warriors had the lead 8-5 and all the momentum and looked like they could win a set, but after a serving error by senior Shelby Crum, senior Kelsey Reed got the ball and did not disappoint.

Reed rattled off eight straight serves, including two aces, to give North Putnam a 13-8 lead, one they did not surrender.

After a couple back and forth serving errors, sophomore Raegan Bowling had the ball on the serving line and like the others, she put on a show. Bowling gained five straight points and with her excellent serve receiving skills, she played an important part in the third set win, 25-18.

"Raegan Bowling played phenomenal. She had some digs that came out of nowhere," Dickson said.

The Cougars back row played a big part in the win, along with the setters. The Cougars played like a team and won the way a team with this type of all around talent should.

The North Putnam student section debuted a new attitude at the game and the attendance should continue to rise this year as the volleyball team is looking to make a statement.

"We needed a win like this to get our confidence back up and winning at home is always fun," Dickson said.



At North Putnam
Turkey Run..................16 8 18
North Putnam..............25 25 25

Stats:
Kills: Nauert 14, Millican 5, Asbell 4, Mindiola 4, Clodfelter 2, Wiatt 2, Bowling 1.
Digs: Bowling 10, Wiatt 9, Clodfelter 1, Lucas 1, Reed 1, Sanford 1.
Blocks-solo: Nauert 5-4, Parent 1-1, Reed 1-0.
Aces: Asbell 4, Reed 3, Nauert 2, Wiatt 2.

JV:
Turkey Run................25 14 9
North Putnam............18 25 15

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