Coming out swinging

Published 1:05 am Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A little home cooking got the Northwood-Kensett volleyball team out of a funk as the Vikings fried up the competition at a triangular Monday in Northwood.

Northwood-Kensett (5-5, 0-3 Corn Bowl) snapped a three-game losing streak and moved back to .500 with two-set victories over Ventura and West Hancock in a triangular.

The Vikings came out strong to open the night with a 25-10, 25-15 victory over the Eagles as Kate Hartman led the way with eight kills, on 19-for-20 hitting, and nine digs. Britney Low also had nine digs and went 13-for-14 with five aces from the service line. Alex Nicholson went 12-for-14 serving with six aces as Northwood-Kensett started to find some cohesion.

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“I think tonight we kind of found our groove,” said Vikings head coach Bess Eilertson. “We’ve been kind of struggling most of the year to find that chemistry, getting the right girls with the right girls.”

It all looked pretty seamless for Northwood-Kensett after starting the season 3-0 and falling to 3-5 before Monday’s contests.

In the second match of the evening the Vikings were able to regroup from an early deficit and a late Ventura rally for a 25-21 first set win.

Northwood-Kensett fell behind 6-2 before going on a 9-3 run to take the lead. After taking an 11-10 lead the Vikings hit the accelerator for an 11-3 run. Ventura got as close as 24-21 before Low put the finishing touches on Ventura with one of her four kills.

Hartman went 19-for-20 hitting again and came up with 10 kills and 10 digs and Northwood-Kensett buried Ventura in the second set 25-13.

Tessa Bratrud hit 7-for-7 and went 19-for-19 serving in the match with two aces while Courtney Eilertson finished with four kills.

The triangular showcased what the Vikings are capable of doing, but haven’t been able to consistently get this season.

“We have three really strong hitters on our team and if all three of them were ever on at the same night … we would be amazing,” Eilertson said.

The Vikings host North Butler Tuesday and have matches next Monday and Tuesday.