Rensselaer Athletic Department

Lady Bombers Battle It Out at KV! Tuesday night, the Lady Bombers 8th grade volleyball teams traveled to KV to face off against the Kougars, and while both A and B teams fell short, they put up one heck of a fight! The A Team match was an absolute nail-biter from start to finish! The Bombers came out strong, claiming set 1 with a thrilling 25-22 win. KV bounced back in set 2 with a 22-25 victory, setting the stage for an epic third set. The Bombers battled point-for-point but narrowly missed the win with a 12-15 score. Their record now sits at 4-4, but this game showed just how much they’ve grown. Despite the loss, the Bombers left everything on the court and are proving they can hang with any team! They’ve come leaps and bounds, improving every match. This was a tough loss, but they can walk away proud knowing they gave it all they had—leaving no doubt that they’re a force to be reckoned with! A Team Stats: Serving: Ella Ferrand was a serving ace, going 8/8 with 2 aces despite playing on an injured ankle—what a warrior! Aela Ademi was solid at 7/8; Brynnlee Dunlap nailed 6/6 with 2 aces; Brynlee Urbano delivered 5/6 with 2 aces; Aubrey Luttrell contributed 5/7; and Taylor Weems added 2/3. Assists: Ella Ferrand was setting up her hitters with precision, racking up 20 assists on a bum ankle—talk about grit! Ariana Whicker tallied 4 assists, while Aela Ademi added 3. Aubrey Luttrell, Brynlee Urbano, and Taylor Weems each chipped in with 1. Blocks: Aela Ademi was a wall at the net, rejecting 3 KV attacks, while Taylor Weems and Ariana Whisker each stuffed 1. Kills: Brynlee Urbano was on fire with 8 crushing kills, while Taylor Weems brought the heat with 7 monster smashes! Kennedy Rodibaugh added a key kill to keep the pressure on the Kougars. Tips: Taylor Weems kept the defense guessing with 6 crafty tips; Aela Ademi added 4 sneaky ones; Brynlee Urbano had 3 well-timed tips; and Ella Ferrand mixed it up with 2. Digs: Susie Murrillo was absolutely unstoppable in the back row, racking up 14 jaw-dropping digs, while Taylor Weems added 9 crucial saves. Aubrey Luttrell and Ariana Whisker each grabbed 2, with Aela Ademi getting 1 solid dig. Passing: Aubrey Luttrell kept things rolling with 20/29 passes; Taylor Weems was a steady 18/19; Ella Ferrand was 10/12; Brynnlee Dunlap and Susie Murrillo both nailed 9/12; and Brynlee Urbano went a perfect 4/4. The B Team also hit the court and gave it their all. Although they fell in two sets with scores of 25-14 and 25-15, they never stopped hustling and showing off their progress. Every single point was hard-fought, and their determination shines through even when the scoreboard doesn’t. Their record is now 1-3, but these girls are laying the foundation for future success and giving their best effort every time they play. B Team Stats: Serving: Quinn Chapman was rock-solid, going 8/9 from the line; Kenley Hamstra and Kenzie Martin both went 1/2, with Martin snagging 1 ace; and Greenlee Pinkerman added 1/3. Assists: Greenlee Pinkerman and Avalynn DeLaney both set up 2 clean assists to keep the offense moving. Digs: Kenzie Martin and Teagan Martin each pulled off 1 dig, keeping the ball alive and the play rolling. Passing: Kenzie Martin was nearly perfect, going 13/14; Avalynn DeLaney was on target with 10/14; Quinn Chapman delivered 9/12 solid passes; and Kenley Hamstra and Greenlee Pinkerman each added 8/10. Tips: Kenley Hamstra was sharp with 2 tips, while Greenlee Pinkerman and Jemma Jordan each added 1 to keep the KV defense on their toes. The Lady Bombers will be back on their home court this Thursday to take on Benton Central. Let’s fill the gym and cheer on these hard-working teams!