Tri-Center VB Dominates Late to Beat Underwood, 3-1

Tri-Center's Teri Leaders (9-15-26)

Tri-Center VB Dominates Late to Beat Underwood, 3-1 –

(9-15-26) – After a close start, the Trojans took over and finished in dominating fashion.

Tri-Center volleyball got 16 kills from Teri Leaders as they defeated their Hwy 191 rivals Underwood in 4-sets, 25-23, 23-25, 25-14, 25-14.

The match started to look like another classic between the Western Iowa Conference rivals. Neither team held more than a 5-pt lead at any point until halfway through the 3rd set.

That’s when Tri-Center got a run, using their serve-receive well to set up Leaders and Tess Casey, while getting excellent from Cameron Way, who came up with 5 of the Trojans 12 blocks.

Leaders said she knew her and her teammates were capable of playing better after losing the 2nd set.

“I know we're better than that. I know this was a very beatable game and I think we realized like we need to have more urgency and just do the little things, just get our serves in and swinging was the main thing. We could just swing and that was really working for us.”

Tri-Center seemed to cover all their bases better in the final two sets, getting into the good position to limit Underwood’s opportunities to score points. Leaders talked about how adjustments over the course of the match helped her be successful.

“Coming into the game, we knew deep corners were open, so just hitting those and then after they adjusted, just swinging hard, honestly, they couldn't really get much of if we swing hard. So that was really what we were doing.”

Trojans setter Jozie Payne continues to excel with 41 assists. Leaders talked about the leadership Payne shows.

“She has great leadership and everything she does is just, she's just a great leader to everyone and she's a really helpful teammate and she has great hustle.”

Casey led the Trojans with 17 kills as they’ve now won 5 of their past 6 matches. Kayley Ambrose had 12 kills for the Eagles, who drop to 5-10 on the season.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats