JOHNSTON – The Webster City volleyball team faced a smorgasbord of Class 5A teams and came home from the Johnston Invitational winless on Saturday.

Third-ranked West Des Moines Dowling (21-7, 21-11), Southeast Polk (21-13, 21-15) and Waukee (16-21, 21-14, 15-11) all beat WCHS in pool play. Urbandale (25-19, 25-15) handed the Lynx their final loss.

Unable to get their offense in gear throughout the tournament, the Lynx slipped to 16-14 overall leading into Tuesday’s critical North Central Conference finale against Algona.

“We really struggled with our serve receive and it completely took us out of being able to run our offense,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “That’s due to good servers on the other side, but also due to a lack of focus on our part.”

WCHS accumulated 58 kills in all, led by outside hitter Molly Gilbert with 16. Middle Hannah Myers thumped 13 to go along with seven solo and six assisted blocks. Alex Dinsdale slammed nine kills, Mikaleh McCoy had eight and setter Taylor Schnathorst chipped in seven and 43 assists.

Gilbert led the defense with 29 digs. Kenzie Garvey (16), Gianna Gourley (15) and Carly Jacobson (15) all reached double digits in digs as well.

WCHS can claim a share of the NCC championship with a win over Algona. It would be the Lynx second consecutive league crown and third in the last four years.