Tigerton volleyball team claims pivotal 3rd set, tops Bowler

The Tigerton High School volleyball team rallied from a five-point deficit in the third set and used that momentum to come away with a road win over Bowler on March 29, winning by scores of 25-14, 15-25, 25-18, 25-18.

Trailing 16-11 in the third set, Tigerton went on a 6-1 run to knot the set up. The Tigers later got kills from seniors Savannah Swartz and Ladia Block to create a three-point cushion, and then ended the set on a 5-0 run.

“We were just able to get together and be there for coverage, get the passes off against the serve and then play at the net,” said Swartz on how the team was able to overcome the deficit.

Tigerton kept the momentum rolling in the fourth set, working out to a 6-1 lead. Later in the set, the Tigers went on a 5-0 run as senior Adrienne Brady served.

Tigerton kept pushing the lead up until it led 24-11, but Bowler didn’t quit. The Panthers rattled off seven straight points before finally losing a point to end the match.

It was the senior trio of Swartz, Block and Brady that led the way for the Tigers.

Swartz finished with 13 total kills, 13 digs, 13 service points and three aces. Block contributed 11 digs and seven attack kills, and Brady posted 12 assists, 10 service points and eight digs.

Tigerton also got strong contributions from junior Elizabeth Robbins and sophomores Skyler Hauser and Abby Swartz.

Robbins totaled 11 service points, nine assists and four digs. Hauser chipped in 10 digs, eight service points and five attack kills, while Abby Swartz had six digs, six service points and four attack kills.

“It shows that we never give up, no matter if we’re losing or not,” said Block of the team’s win as the playoffs near. “We just push forward, and we know we can win. We know we can get really far this season and we’re really excited to go as far as we can.”

After Tigerton came out and controlled the opening set, Bowler — which honored its seniors and parents on the night — was able to flip the switch in the second set.

The Panthers went on a 4-0 run with sophomore Brandi Spencer serving to create a cushion before ending the set on a 7-2 run.

Bowler carried that momentum over into the third set before losing its five-point edge.

“My team does a thing where we get a couple points and we get too excited, I guess, and we think we’re the best. And then we just kind of go downhill from there, and then it’s hard bringing us back up from then,” said Bowler senior McKayla Putnam.

It was Putnam that led the Panthers on the court, as she finished with 10 attack kills, nine service aces and nine assists.

The team’s other senior, Tynea Johnson, added eight digs and four attack kills for the Panthers.

Spencer contributed a team-leading 14 assists, while junior Morgan Paiser had six digs and four attack kills. Junior Tia Kroening also had six digs.

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