Fremont-Mills volleyball one win from state tournament berth

ATLANTIC - The Fremont-Mills volleyball team won its 15th match in a row with a 25-23, 25-9, 25-16 sweep of Ar-We-Va in the Class 1A, Region 2 semifinals Friday in Atlantic to advance to tonight’s regional final against Gehlen Catholic.

The Knights (22-5) started slow against the Rockets, a surprise regional semifinalist with an 11-15 record, but finished strong in the final two games to reach the regional final for the second straight season.

Fremont-Mills coach Tracy Malcom said the difference between game one and games two and three was less strategic changes as attitude changes.

“We talked (between game one and two) about how we finished against Sidney and how we were too relaxed,” Malcom said. “We wanted to end it in three and focus on the little things that we’ve been doing all year. And we were able to put it together and come out with the win.”

Malcom said she felt her team had a quickness advantage on the Rockets and the Knights had to get used to a slower, more deliberate pace than the up tempo style they’re used to.

“We had to take a few timeouts to talk about playing our game, every hit, every pass and staying together as a team and we did that,” she said.

Taryn Williams led the Knights with 12 kills. Macy Williams added seven kills.
State ranked No. 11 Fremont-Mills travels to Woodbine tonight to take on state ranked No. 8 Gehlen Catholic (22-14), the same team that ended the Knights’ season in last year’s regional final. A nervous F-M team was swept by Gehlen 25-17, 25-19, 25-11 that night, said Malcom.

The coach brings a different team for round two in tonight’s regional final.
“They’re a tough team and so are we,” she said. “We have to go in with our heads held high. Last year, we were kind of out of our realm in the crowd and everything that came into play in the regional finals.
“It was such a huge thing for the school and a bit of shock for the girls. They were nervous. This year, we’re very much ‘been there, done that.’ We’re going to come in and play strong and confident and play our game. We have to bring our good volleyball game.”

Malcom said she felt her team had a quickness advantage on the Rockets and the Knights had to get used to a slower, more deliberate pace than the up tempo style they’re used to.
“We had to take a few timeouts to talk about playing our game, every hit, every pass and staying together as a team and we did that,” she said.

Taryn Williams led the Knights with 12 kills. Macy Williams added seven kills.
State ranked No. 11 Fremont-Mills travels to Woodbine tonight to take on state ranked No. 8 Gehlen Catholic (22-14), the same team that ended the Knights’ season in last year’s regional final. A nervous F-M team was swept by Gehlen 25-17, 25-19, 25-11 that night, said Malcom.

The coach brings a different team for round two in tonight’s regional final.
“They’re a tough team and so are we,” she said. “We have to go in with our heads held high. Last year, we were kind of out of our realm in the crowd and everything that came into play in the regional finals.”

“It was such a huge thing for the school and a bit of shock for the girls. They were nervous. This year, we’re very much ‘been there, done that.’ We’re going to come in and play strong and confident and play our game. We have to bring our good volleyball game.”

F-M 25-25-21-22-15
Sidney10-15-25-25-10

TABOR - Taryn Williams belted a season-high 21 kills and Macy Williams added 13 as Fremont-Mills downed Sidney 25-10, 25-15, 21-25, 22-25, 15-10 in the Class 1A, Regional second round last Tuesday in the Lied Gymnasium.

The Knights came out hot against the Cowgirls (17-13), won the first two matches handily but then had to escape with a fifth game winner after dropping games three and four. The victory was the Knights’ third over Sidney this season.

“We came out very strong and were aggressive not only offensively but defensively as well,” said Fremont-Mills coach Tracy Malcom. “We were in synch and everything was gelling. I feel after the second match, we began playing relaxed and were over-thinking things on the court.

“We dropped the next two sets, and I completely took the players off the court to speak with them on the one thing we have stressed all year: focus.”

Fremont-Mills hit .213 as a team and recorded 49 kills. In addition to Taryn Williams’ 21 kills and Macy Williams’ 13, freshman Clara Schaaf chipped in nine kills.

Delaney Langfelt dished up 44 set assists and recorded six digs.

Lexy Larsen led Sidney with 19 kills.