Highlights from No. 5 North Tama’s sweep of Colo-NESCO
Tuesday at Colo-NESCO, North Tama showed why its the No. 5 team in 1A. The Redhawks easily dispatched of the Royals with a sweep (25-14, 25-15, 25-9) to improve to 11-2. Colo-NESCO fell to 3-8. Here is what stood out:…
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Continue ReadingTuesday at Colo-NESCO, North Tama showed why its the No. 5 team in 1A. The Redhawks easily dispatched of the Royals with a sweep (25-14, 25-15, 25-9) to improve to 11-2. Colo-NESCO fell to 3-8. Here is what stood out:
Katie Kopriva is a force to be reckoned with
A powerful lefty, North Tama’s Katie Kopriva notched 8 kills with a .400 hitting percentage. The 6-foot-0 junior is a complete player, showing off her ball control with smooth digs (2nd on the team with 7) and adept passing. And although she was most impressive with her forceful attacks, she was also creative, including a soft kill. This season, Koprvia is third in 1A with 120 kills.
Her differentiated serves also kept Colo-NESCO on its toes, and she notched 2 aces to bring her season total to 17.
Super sophomore
North Tama’s Abby Deboef was exceptional. The sophomore notched 10 kills with a team-leading .421 hitting percentage, as balls seemed to just explode from her right arm. She was also the only Redhawk to post a block, tallying 2 solos. Listed at 5-foot-9, she certainly looked taller as she challenged attacks and hit from above the net.
Third on the team with 43 kills this year, Deboef has the looks of a potent hitter and blocker up front.
However, she did not serve or play the back row, so those may be areas for her to focus in the future.
Karly collects kills
Although the aforementioned sophomore and junior were terrific, it was senior Karly Jans who led the way statistically. The 5-foot-9 senior tallied 11 kills and 4 aces (she has a great serve) to lead the way for the state tournament hopefuls.
Not quite as tall as Kopriva, Jans used her leaping ability to create well-timed offensive opportunities.
Options, options, options
Those three hitters accounted for the bulk of the Redhawks kills on Tuesday, but three other players — Carlie Gorder, Alexis Hansen, and Grace Thorsen — also had multiple kills.
Colo-NESCO coach Jessica Owens noticed how difficult the Redhawks, with so many capable hitters, are to stop.
“They have really strong hitters. They can read the ball really well. We tried tipping it a couple times, but they could read those like it was nothing,” she said. “All around they’re just a really good team. I know they’ve played together for awhile now.”
Kopriva cousins are a profound pair
While Katie Kopriva dominated the net, her cousin and fellow junior Takoa Kopriva, patrolled the back row. A 5-foot-4 libero, Kopriva notched 14 digs on Tuesday to bring her season total to 161; her 5.19 digs per set is good enough for fourth-best in 1A.
The two form part of a great North Tama team that has only lost two matches this season, including a close (albeit a sweep) match with No. 1 Janesville.
Aces galore
While host Colo-NESCO managed only 2 aces, the Redhawks finished with an impressive 16 over the three sets.
Grace Thorsen — who handled the setting duties with Isabel Sierra — and Karly Jans each led the team with 4 aces. Sophomore Madison Stoneking contributed 3 and Katelyn Kucera (line drive serve) and Katie Kopriva added 2 each.
Colo-NESCO’s highlight
It was, admittedly, not the Royals best night. But their brightest spot came from junior Gracie Kettwig, who leads the team in kills, blocks and aces. On Tuesday, she notched 4 kills, 1 block and 1 ace. The Royals best opportunities for points came when junior setter Megan Carlson (12 assists) passed to Kettwig.
Kettwig also had a hard and powerful serve that was difficult for the Redhawks to handle at times.