Volleyball: Medford knocks out Red Wing

After a team-bonding session on Friday, Red Wing volleyball coach Heidi Ulwelling was feeling confident about her team’s chances in its return to the court Tuesday in a non-conference match at Medford.

But before the match, the Wingers were dealt a blow when one of their top offensive players, middle hitter Sydney Book, missed the match with a back injury.

Missing one of its top attackers, Red Wing fell in three sets, 25-11, 25-12, 25-11.

“I thought we’d come out with a win in that one,” Ulwelling said. “Not having Sydney impacted us a little bit. Hopefully, we’ll have her back for Thursday’s big game (against Academy of Holy Angels).”

In Book’s absence, Macy Kelly led the Wingers with five kills, while McKenna Schaffer had three ace serves, 10 digs, and was a perfect 15 of 15 in serve-receive.

Mary Anthony and Sarah O’Keefe solidified the back row with five digs each.

With the loss, the Wingers (4-16) dropped their ninth straight match.

“Unfortunately, we had the injury and that could have made or break it to help us on the offensive side,” Ulwelling said. ‘We had to pull a key middle and ended up filling her spot with Macy, then we have to fill Macy’s spot and pull up a junior varsity kid.”

At 0-3 in Missota Conference play, Red Wing will try for its first conference win of the season at home Thursday against Holy Angels.

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