Rockets couldn’t find answer to West Harrison on Homecoming

By TYLER ANDERSON tanderson@iowainformation.com

It’s been a rough stretch for the Paton-Churdan volleyball team so far. The Rockets are a completely new team, working to pick up the nuances of the game along the way, and are being baptized by fire.

Not the most optimal combination for anyone, really.

Victory continued to evade the Rockets in their latest Rolling Valley Conference outing – which doubled as Paton-Churdan’s Homecoming – as the black and orange had a hard time containing West Harrison before falling via a 3-0 decision last Thursday at the Rocket Gym.

The Hawkeyes took advantage of the Rockets’ miscues with a pair of 25-3 victories, before the Rockets came to life in the third set. Paton-Churdan battled valiantly, getting as close as 23-21 after trailing by as much as six points, before coming up short in a 25-21 result.

Due to their latest setback, the Rockets dropped to 0-4 within the RVC and 0-6 overall. West Harrison improved to 7-11 overall with a 2-2 record in conference play.

This past Tuesday, Paton-Churdan returned home for an RVC matchup against Coon Rapids-Bayard, held at the CR-B Gymnasium in Coon Rapids. At 6 p.m. tonight at the Rocket Gym, the Rockets will face off against Glidden-Ralston. 

Recaps from both matches will be posted in an upcoming edition of the Jefferson Herald.

Junior Grace Cullum led the way for Paton-Churdan with seven digs, two assists and two service aces, while freshman Maggie Reed recorded nine digs. Sophomore Mia Russell acquired eight digs and one kill, as freshman Kaliyah Minnihan reeled in six digs and one kill.

Freshman Ella Tasler picked up three digs and two aces, and sophomore Madison Roper rounded out the stats sheet with three digs.