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Bobcats do away with Fort Dodge

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Members of the Marshalltown High School volleyball team celebrate after sweeping Fort Dodge in Tuesday’s CIML Iowa Conference match at the Roundhouse. The Bobcats won 25-12, 25-12, 25-19.

This was a needed win for Marshalltown volleyball, and head coach Kaylee Peschong knew it.

The Marshalltown Bobcats (4-9) swept Fort Dodge at home 25-15, 25-12 and 25-19 to stop a four-game losing streak.

Peschong said this was a big win to get after going through a lot of growing pains with an influx of young talent this season.

“I think it’s very important and I thought our offense looked really good,” Peschong said. “We were aggressive both at the serving line and in the front row, and that’s always great to see. We played really well together, which is always such a good feeling as a team.”

A convincing 25-15 win in set one was followed up by a 25-12 result to consolidate the Bobcats’ control over the match. The Dragons (2-11) didn’t have much of a foothold at all through the first three games. A balanced offensive attack from the Bobcats was led by setters Khloe Shipley and Gaby Estabrook, who contributed 11 and eight assists, respectively. Autumn Finch once again led the Bobcats in kills with 12, while Sophie Younkin added 10 of her own.

The third set involved a little more back-and-forth, with Fort Dodge tying the game at 16-16 and forcing a timeout from Peschong to try and restore order.

The Dodgers briefly took the lead at 17-16, then 18-17. But each time the Bobcats fought back, and with Younkin serving (she had a team-high four aces throughout the match) they went on a 7-0 run to push the score to 24-18 and all but wrap up the win. A kill from Ella Roush sealed the deal and gave the Bobcats the win.

Defensively, Younkin led the group with seven digs. Gracious Ree, Shipley and Finch all had four digs apiece. Shipley added three aces, while Finch blocked three shots.

Peschong said it’s important for Marshalltown to build off of this win over the second half of the season.

“This is a huge game kind of midway through the season to kind of build on,” Peschong said. “Heading in towards the end of the season and to have this momentum, it’s really big.”

The Bobcats go to a Cedar Falls Tournament this Saturday hosted by Cedar Falls High School.

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