TASTE OF VICTORY
Dodgers pick up first win of young season
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The Fort Dodge volleyball squad was focused on getting things going in the right direction here Thursday night.
Not just to end an early-season drought, but to take the pressure off, lose the monotony and build some confidence.
The Dodgers (1-7 overall) picked up their first win of the season, sweeping Des Moines Hoover (0-6) in straight sets. Scores were 26-16, 25-9, 25-14.
"We needed this one," said FDSH head coach Beth Wilder. "We talked before the match about how we didn't just need to come out on top, but we wanted to (prevail) by staying in control.
"It was important to stay within our system, be consistent and not play choppy."
From the start, the Dodgers were in control. They built early leads in all three sets at 5-0, 7-0 and 3-0 before the Huskies got on the board.
In the opener, Fort Dodge grabbed an immediate 16-5 lead thanks in large part to an 8-0 run.
"Our wing defenders played well and adjusted," Wilder said. "We were able to work off our blockers and stay in control."
Junior Adyson Friesth had a great start to the match, recording eight kills. classmate Grace Nichols added three.
"(Senior) Hope (Alstott) is the calm in the storm," Wilder said. "We have her playing in the middle back, and her confidence is growing there."
In the second set, Fort Dodge was in control after a 7-0 burst and a pair of 5-0 runs. They closed it out with three straight points.
Friesth and sophomore Holly Schaffer had five kills each.
The third and final set was a little tighter early after the Dodger went up 11-6. The Huskies scored four straight to make it 11-10 and 13-12.
Fort Dodge put the match out of reach, though, with six straight points.
Friesth ended the night with 16 kills, while Schaffer had 10 and Nichols added five.
"With Sydney (Carver) out (due to injury), we need our hitters to step up," Wilder said. "Holly has been playing well out of the back row on attacks, and Adyson has been doing well.
"We need our offense to step up and find a third hitter that we can play off of."
Senior Ellie Doster had eight digs. Schaffer added six.
Doster and Friesth led the way with 15 and 13 assists, respectively. Friesth had six service aces. Doster had five.
The Dodgers are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Des Moines East to face the Scarlets (1-3).