Autumn Finch

CEDAR FALLS — The Marshalltown volleyball team continued to make progress with Saturday’s showing at the Cedar Falls Tournament. Head coach Chris Brees is just eager to see his Bobcats take the next step.

Marshalltown went 2-3 for the day, going 1-2 in pool play before bowing out in the second round of their consolation bracket.

The Bobcats (7-10) went 0-2 against ranked teams and 1-1 in three-set matches, failing to finish off Des Moines Roosevelt in the final round of pool play but bouncing back to beat Fort Dodge in the opening round of bracketed action.

In pool play, MHS defeated Waterloo Columbus (22-20, 22-20) before falling to Class 2A No. 2 Osage (21-16, 21-8) and Roosevelt (12-21, 21-19, 15-8). After beating Fort Dodge in a four-set match at home on Tuesday, the Bobcats downed the Dodgers again to open the consolation bracket, 21-15, 19-21, 15-8, before bowing out against 5A No. 14 Waterloo West, 25-13, 25-21.

“We seemed to be a step slow all day today, making the work harder than it should be,” Brees said. “We are better than where we were two weeks ago, but we need to learn to finish matches. We let Roosevelt get away from us.”

For the day, Autumn Finch led the Bobcats with 41 kills and eight blocks. Erica Johnson piled up 36 kills, a team-high 40 digs and was 45-for-46 serving with four aces. Hayden Oetker compiled 20 kills, six digs and three blocks. Tasia Pohle added seven kills and two blocks, and Gabby Himes rounded out the offense with six kills.

Senior setter Madi Finch finished with a grand total of 104 assists to go with her 18 digs, two blocks and 32-for-33 serving with three aces.

“Madi, Erica and Autumn led us most of the day,” Brees said. “We just need some supporting cast to step up. We had the opportunity to get wins against ranked opponents but played too slow.”

Kyra Feldman and Grace Fisher both posted 24 digs for the defense, Mayah Carson tallied 16 digs, Brittany Sichra added 14 digs and Lyris Kapayou had five more. Feldman served 34-for-36 with an ace, Sichra was 20-for-20 with three aces, Carson was 20-for-22 with three aces and Fisher finished 20-for-22.

Top-ranked tournament host Cedar Falls swept its way to the championship, defeating Osage in the finals.

Marshalltown dives headfirst back into CIML Iowa Conference play with Tuesday’s home match against 5A No. 3 West Des Moines Valley.

“Valley will be too tough for us if we don’t come out with more energy,” Brees added.