D-NH volleyball rebounds from early loss for tournament title

ANKENY – After a loss in pool play to Dowling Catholic, Dike-New Hartford bounced back to fend off a slew of large-school competition to claim the Ankeny Centennial Early Bird tournament title on Saturday, Aug. 27.

Dowling defeated D-NH, ranked 1st in Class 2A and ninth in a recent national high school ranking from Just Women’s Sports, 23-21, 21-9.

Dowling is rated 10th in Class 5A, but the higher the Wolverines’ competition was in the rankings, the better D-NH fared on Saturday.

The Wolverines finished 2-1 in pool play with a three-set win over 5A No. 6 Waukee Northwest and a sweep of 3A No. 11 Nevada. 

D-NH advanced to the quarterfinals, besting 5A No. 5 Ankeny in three sets, sweeping 5A No. 2 Cedar Falls in the semis and another sweep in the finals over 5A No. 3 Pleasant Valley.

Payton Petersen recorded 14 kills in the championship match and Ellie Knock contributed seven kills and three blocks. Madelyn Norton distributed 26 assists and had seven digs. Jadyn Petersen had two ace serves with 20-of-21 serving.

Earlier in the week, D-NH swept 5A No. 1 Iowa City Liberty and 4A No. 4 West Delaware.

NICL play begins Thursday in Dike against Hudson. Another tournament awaits on Sept. 3 in Mount Vernon.

Thursday, Aug. 25

At West Delaware

D-NH 27-25, IC Liberty 25-15

Kills-Jadyn Petersen 11, Payton Petersen 9, Maryn Bixby 6. Assists-Madelyn Norton 27. Digs-Norton 9, J. Petersen 6, Claire McCumber 5. Blocks-Bixby 3, J. Petersen 2. Serving-Brielle Coulter 10-11, ace; McCumber 10-11; P. Petersen 9-9.

D-NH 25-25, W. Delaware 15-10

Kills-Jadyn Petersen 9, Payton Petersen 9, Maryn Bixby 7. Assists-Madelyn Norton 25. Digs-Jadyn Petersen 12, Payton Petersen 9, Abby Jensen 9. Blocks-Bixby 3, P. Petersen 2. Serving-Jensen 15-16, 3 aces; P. Petersen 6-6, ace; Brielle Coulter 10-10.

Saturday, Aug. 27

At Ankeny Centennial

Pool Play

Dowling 23-21, D-NH 21-9

D-NH 17-21-15, Waukee NW 21-7-8

D-NH 21-21, Nevada 13-15

Quarterfinals

D-NH 23-26-15, Ankeny 25-17-9

Semifinals

D-NH 25-25, Cedar Falls 16-19

Finals

D-NH 25-25, Pleasant Valley 19-14

D-NH tournament total leaders

Kills-Payton Petersen 56, Jadyn Petersen 38, Ellie Knock 23. Assists-Madelyn Norton 128. Digs-J. Petersen 49, P. Petersen 48, Abby Jensen 31. Blocks-Knock 11, Maryn Bixby, Sophia Folkerts 10. Serving-J. Petersen 59-70, 6 aces; Jensen 34-39, 6 aces; Bixby 47-50, 3 aces; Norton 27-31, 3 aces.