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Verona volleyball tops Craig; Parker falls on road

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig’s Katie Villa (31) and Ali Calkins go up for a block against Verona on Thursday.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig’s Ali Calkins slams the ball through a Verona defender’s hands for one of her 13 kills Thursday night. Verona won, 3-0, to hand the Cougars their first Big Eight loss of the season.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig’s Kristi Crandall stretches for a dig against Verona on Thursday. Verona swept all three sets to hand Craig its first Big Eight loss of the season.

Verona showed why it will be among the Big Eight Conference elite again this season Thursday night.

The defending conference champion Wildcats defeated Craig, 25-11, 25-21, 25-20, in the Cougars' gym.

Craig fell to 2-1 in the conference.

"They won the conference last year, and they are tough again," said Craig coach Blake Budrow.

The Wildcats breezed to the first-game win, then had to go to the wire to down the Cougars in the next two games.

"Game one, we couldn't serve receive," said Budrow. "Games two and three, I was very pleased with the way we played.

"(Amanda) Trapp and (Maddy) Philipps were passing well," Budrow said. "Ali Calkins did a good job of hitting tonight and finding the open spot."

Calkins had 13 kills.

Craig competes in the Elkhorn Invitational on Saturday.

VERONA 3, CRAIG 0

Verona 25 25 25 12

Craig 11 21 20 25

Craig (aces-kills-assists-digs)—Megan Hulen, 0-0-6; Haleigh Salemi, 0-0-0-1; Maddy Philipps, 0-0-0-5; Haley Updike, 0-3-0-0; Gabby Loveland, 4-2-0-0; Regan Sitorius, 0-7-0-1; Ali Calkins, 1-13-0-0; Kristi Crandall, 0-0-0-7; Morgan Meinders, 1-0-0-2; Kayley Hackett, 2-0-8-0; Amanda Trapp, 1-0-0-4; Aly Raymond, 0-2-0-0; Mckenzie Bertagnoli, 0-2-1-0; Kourtney Kell, 0-2-0-0; Katie Villa, 0-4-25-2.

Junior varsity—Verona 2, Craig 1.

-- Middleton 3, Parker 0—Parker could not contend with the defensive ability and height advantage Middleton has in a Big Eight match on the Cardinals' court Thursday.

"Middleton has been to state the last couple of years in a row," Parker coach Dave Lehmann said. "Defensively, they are tremendous. We

didn't have an ace tonight, and we've had a bunch this year, so that tells you how good they are.

"They are so tall, and we're short, but our kids fought and scrapped," Lehmann said. "But the bottom line is (Middleton) is a better team."

Lehmann was pleased with the play of several of the Vikings.

"Ashley Hartwig (16 kills and eight digs) and Claire Gorman (four kills, nine digs) had good nights," Lehmann said. "Defensively, the Gorman sisters (Claire and Ally) were good at receiving serves."

The Vikings, 1-2 in the Big Eight, will host the Parker Invitational on Saturday. Milton, Jefferson, Orfordville Parkview, Racine Lutheran and Shoreland Lutheran will compete in both varsity and junior varsity divisions.

MIDDLETON 3, PARKER 0

Parker 15 16 17 19

Middleton 25 25 25 25

Parker (aces-kills-assists-digs)—Claire Gorman, 0-4-0-9; Dani Fugate, 0-3-0-0; Maddie Clarke, 0-4-1-0; Karli Doerr, 0-0-0-3; Kyslee Grieve, 0-0-0-4; Carmen Bailey, 0-0-0-2; Hannah Flister, 0-0-0-2; Karlee Fowler, 0-4-0-3; Kristin Dallman, 0-3-0-0; Ashley Hartwig, 0-16-1-8; Claire Fox, 0-2-16-5; Alyssa Krauter, 0-2-1-0; Ally Gorman, 0-0-0-3; Jenna Miller, 0-0-3-0; Jackie Shepler, 0-0-1-0.