Red Oak sweeps Shenandoah

RED OAK — The Red Oak Tigers volleyball team picked up their second win of the season, last Thursday night, against the Shenandoah Fillies.

Red Oak swept the match, 3-0.

“I thought we played really well as a team, I thought everyone had a good night hitting and passing-wise,” Tigers middle hitter Andrea Miller said.

The Tigers won the first game, 25-12. Red Oak maintained a solid lead throughout the first game, taking a 23-9 lead at one point.
Shenandoah took an early 4-3 lead in the second game.

However the Tigers scored five straight points, including a serving ace by Grace Blomstedt, to take an 8-4 lead.

The Fillies scored five of the next six points to tie up the match, 9-9.
The game remained tied at 12, until Red Oak scored two consecutive points to hold on to the lead.

From there, the Tigers scored 11 of the next 15 points to win the second game, 25-16.

In the third game, Red Oak and Shenandoah stayed close early.
With Red Oak leading 8-7, the Tigers scored eight straight points to take a 16-7 lead.

Following a timeout by Shenandoah, the Tigers scored four of the next five points to take a 20-9 lead.

The Fillies weren’t about to go away as they scored 11 straight points to tie up the game at 20 each.

A couple of errors by Shenandoah put Red Oak back in the lead, 23-20.

Red Oak won the third game 25-20, clinching the match.

Gabi French finished the game leading the Tigers in kills with 12 out of 20 attempted.

French’s 16 digs also led the team. Kristi Yardas was second on the team in digs with 15.

Blomstedt, a freshman, finished the match with six kills, four blocks (two solo) and three serving aces.

“She's been doing really well. She's impressed a lot of people and she's impresed me as well,” Miller said about Blomstedt.

Blomstedt shared some of the blocking responsibility with Maddie Holmgren and Andrea Miller.

“I think something we struggled with against Creston was establishing our middle hitters and putting some stress off our outsides,” Tigers Head Volleyball Coach Angie Montgomery said.

Miller had five blocks (one solo), while Holmgren assisted in three blocks.

Miller finished the night with four kills and also a dig.

“I expect her to be a leader on the court too for us,” Montgomery said about Miller.

Holmgren was tied with Blomstedt for three serving aces.

The Tigers hit the road for their next match. They traveled West Tuesday to face the Glenwood Rams.

Results weren’t available as of press time, but there will be an update on the Red Oak Express website, Wednesday morning.

On Saturday, the Tigers head North to compete in the Griswold Tourney. They are scheduled to face Griswold, Guthrie Center and Audubon.