Wolves take home invite championship

Junior Ashton Erickson (5) focuses on making a successful Maywood-Hayes Center serve as the Wolves improved their season record to 8-4 with two wins Monday evening.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

MAYWOOD, Neb. — The Maywood-Hayes Center Wolves shook off a first-set loss to win their home volleyball tournament Monday evening.

Coach Kory Rohde’s Wolves (8-4 record) stopped South Platte 25-22, 25-22 after rallying past Elwood 21-25, 25-18 and 25-15.

“We were very happy winning our invite tonight,” Rohde remarked. “The gym was a very hot environment, but the girls fought through it to claim the victory over a very scrappy South Platte team.”

South Platte brought an 8-2 record into the title match.

However, 20 kills from junior Avery Johnson (11) and Paige Wood (nine) powered the Wolves’ title-match victory.

Jaycee Weidner served eight points when not drilling another five kills.

Jaycee Lapp delivered 15 assists with another 11 for Karlie Gerlach.

The Elwood Pirates nearly ruined M-HC fun early on Monday, but Gerlach’s 20-for-20 serving (14 points) and Jaycee Widener’s 10 kills rallied those Wolves through this semifinal match.

Lapp delivered three ace serves, Gerlach two and Maci Sorge one with her 13-for-13 effort.

“We served the ball really well tonight,” Rohde confirmed. “And we made big plays when we needed them.”

Johnson crushed seven kills while warming up for 11 against South Platte.

Wood walloped another six lethal shots.

Lapp (12) and Gerlach (10) again nearly divided another 22 assists for MH-C.