HAMMOND, IND. – The Parkside volleyball team opened play on Friday at the 2023 Midwest Crossover hosted at the Hammond Sportsplex. The Rangers competed twice on Friday, first against Quincy University where the Rangers fell 3-1. Parkside then played in a five set thriller in the nightcap against Ashland University. Parkside battled throughout, but fell to the Eagles by a final score of 3-2.
Match One vs. Quincy
Elizabeth Truckenbrod led the Ranger offense with ten kills in the opening match of the day, she also registered a career high 18 digs. Mariena Coon and Ava Irvin had nine kills each.
Set one was closely contested, featuring seven ties and two lead changes. Both teams registered 13 kills in the set, but Quincy was able to score the final three points of the set after Parkside had taken a 23-22 lead. Quincy then took control in set two, taking it 25-15.
Parkside rallied in set three to keep the match alive, winning 25-23. Six different Rangers had kills in the set, led by Truckenbrod and Marisa Lootens with three. Quincy led by as many as ten in the set, but Parkside was able to out-score Quincy 16-4 over the final half of the set to extend the match.
Set four was closely fought, featuring 11 ties and four lead changes. The teams traded points, but two late kills allowed Quincy to take set four 27-25 and the match 3-1.
Match Two vs. Ashland
Four Rangers had career highs in the five set match against the Eagles. Ava Irvin had a career best 28 kills while hitting .349. Mariena Coon had a career best 18 kills with no errors on 33 attempts. Then Karlee Lois had a career high 66 assists. Sierra Marshall had 18 digs.
The Rangers came out swinging in set one, hitting .419 as a team in the set. Parkside had 17 kills on 31 attempts to go along with three blocks. Truckenbrod led the powerful Parkside offense with six kills in the set. The Rangers never trailed in set one, closing out the 25-17 set win with a kill from Coon.
Ashland came back to take set two 25-23, but Parkside was up to the challenge again in set three. Parkside hit .224 in the set, and battled through four Ashland aces. Irvin led the offense for Parkside, registering nine kills in set three. Set three featured 17 ties and four lead changes, but Parkside was able to get the job done late, getting a kill from Marisa Lootens to help propel Parkside to a 28-26 set three win.
Set four was highly contested once again, but following an Ashland timeout, the Eagles were able to score the final two points of the set to take set four 25-23, forcing a deciding game five. Coon had seven kills for the Rangers in set four.
Set five was tight through the early points, but with the score tied 9-9 Ashland was able to score six of the final nine points to take set five 15-12 and the match 3-2.
The Rangers will conclude the 2023 Midwest Crossover tomorrow from Hammond. Links to coverage can be found at ParksideRangers.com/coverage
