Wartburg battles at Border Battle

ST. JOSEPH, MINN. - A hard-fought weekend at the Iowa-Minnesota Conference Tier I Border Battle tournament was highlighted for Wartburg Oct. 2 with sophomore outside hitter Britlyn Sieck (Fayette) being named to the all-tournament team. Sieck was among the Orange and Black’s leaders with 31 kills in four matches.

Day one’s action saw coach Jennifer Walker’s squad take the host Blazers to four sets and then narrowly miss toppling American Volleyball Coaches Association’s No. 13-ranked St. Olaf College of Northfield, Minn., squad. The Oles needed a 15-13 win in the fifth set to hold off the Knights. The competition level in day two would not drop as Wartburg met up with two of the top finishers in the MIAC last year.

Saturday’s first match brought on a close-knit three set sweep of the Knights by the top-20 ranked Cobbers of Concordia-Moorhead and game two on Saturday featured MIAC powerhouse and top 15-ranked St. Thomas. The young Wartburg team, led by junior middle hitter Kamille Van Natta (Readlyn) and Sieck, fell short, as the Tommies swept them in three games.

Freshman outside hitter Maddie Forsyth (Charles City) (33 kills and six blocks), Van Natta (31 kills, five blocks, 32 digs and five service aces), and freshman outside/right side hitter Ramey Sieck (Fayette) (24 kills, a .210 attack percentage, 77 assists, six assists, 29 digs and three blocks) were also in the top statistical group for Walker’s team.

Wartburg, with a 10-10 overall and 1-2 Iowa Conference record, continues IIAC play Tuesday, Oct. 5, with a 7:30 p.m. first serve at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.

Print Friendly Version