The big picture result was the Lynx broke even at the Algona Invite. They notched 2-0 victories over Storm Lake (21-13, 21-14) and North Union (21-8, 21-11), as well as a 2-1 win over Algona (21-14, 16-21, 15-11). WCHS was swept by 11th-ranked (Class 3A) Sioux Center (21-11, 21-10) and seventh-ranked (3A) Spirit Lake (21-12, 21-19), and also dropped a 2-1 decision to 15th-ranked (2A) Lake Mills (21-15, 18-21, 15-11).

But it was the tournament-closing triumph over the host Bulldogs that made the long bus ride home easier. Algona claimed a marathon five-set victory over WCHS in the North Central Conference opener for both teams just two days earlier.

“That was good for the girls and they felt really good about that last win,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “Being able to come back after Thursday’s loss … to get that redemption was nice.”

Outside of the lopsided loss to Sioux Center, Howard said her squad was competitive throughout the day and showed signs of improvement.

“Sioux Center got away from us, but everywhere else I thought we competed pretty well,” she said. “I thought consistency, especially in the serve receive area, was improved throughout the day. We got more comfortable in that part of the game.”

It was another solid defensive day for sophomore libero Alayna Finucan, who registered 55 digs. Haley Foster added 32, Adalie Schwandt had 18 and Jenna Miller 11.

Miller (32) and Morgan Gallentine (44) distributed 76 of the Lynx 82 assists.

It was an up and down day in the front row, as WCHS hit .105 as a team with 89 kills.

Grace Hoversten had one of her best outings in the middle with a team-high 26 kills and .203 kill efficiency.

“She used her height to her advantage and attacked out of the middle,” Howard said of Hoversten. “She was seeing the blockers really well.”

Schwandt and Gallentine smacked 19 kills each; Gallentine hit a team-best .239.

WCHS will return to its home court Tuesday night for a conference match against Clear Lake at 7:30 p.m.

Algona Invite

Saturday at Algona

Webster City Match Scores

Storm Lake: 2-0 win (21-13, 21-14); Sioux Center: 2-0 loss (21-11, 21-10); Lake Mills: 2-1 loss (21-15, 18-21, 15-11); North Union: 2-0 win (21-8, 21-11); Spirit Lake: 2-0 loss (21-12, 21-19); Algona: 2-1 win (21-14, 16-21, 15-11).

Webster City Statistics

(6 matches combined)

Attacks — Grace Hoversten 57-69, 26 kills; Adalie Schwandt 53-68, 19 kills; Morgan Gallentine 38-46, 19 kills; Haley Foster 31-45, 10 kills; Faith Anderson 14-22, 7 kills; Reese Casey 6-9, 1 kill; Alayna Finucan 5-6, 1 kill; Jenna Miller 2-2, 1 kill.

Blocks — Schwandt 6, Foster 5, Anderson 4, Casey 21⁄2, Hoversten 21⁄2, Gallentine 1.

Digs — Finucan 55, Foster 32, Schwandt 18, Miller 11, Gallentine 8, Anderson 3, Casey 3, Leah Kasch 1.

Assists — Gallentine 44, Miller 32, Finucan 4, Foster 2.

Serving — Miller 53-54, 4 aces; Foster 49-49, 4 aces; Kasch 36-40, 4 aces; Finucan 26-28, 2 aces; Gallentine 32-32, 1 ace; Schwandt 33-34; Alley Odland 1-1.

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