Wolfpack Battle to Five Sets, Fall Short to Homer Lady Knights
Wolfpack Battle to Five Sets, Fall Short to Homer Lady Knights
The TCNE Wolfpack gave their home crowd plenty to cheer for on Thursday night, October 9th, as they hosted the Homer Lady Knights in a thrilling Lewis & Clark Conference matchup at Allen High School. Despite a determined comeback after dropping the first two sets, the Wolfpack came up just short in a five-set heartbreaker, falling 3-2 to Homer. Set scores were 22-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-16, and 14-16.
The night was a showcase of grit, resilience, and offensive power from both sides. After narrowly losing the opening two sets, the Wolfpack refused to go quietly. TCNE roared back with renewed energy in sets three and four, dominating with efficient hitting and strong defense to even the match and force a decisive fifth set. The final frame was a nail-biter from start to finish, with neither team willing to yield. At one point, the score was tied 14-14 but a controversial net call on the Wolfpack gave the Knights the edge they needed to hold on for the two-point win.
Outside hitters Kiya Tornez and Joslyn Mackling spearheaded the Wolfpack attack, combining for an impressive 47 kills on the night. Tornez recorded 25 kills, while Mackling added 22, keeping the Homer defense on its heels throughout the match. Both Tornez and Mackling have officially hit the 500 career kills mark.
At the net, middle hitter Delaney Fuchser led TCNE’s blocking effort with 2 blocks, while setter Ally Belt contributed another. Belt also orchestrated the offense with precision, tallying 44 assists, a testament to her consistency and leadership on the court. During the game, Belt accomplished an impressive 1000 career assists!
From the service line, Briley Anderson led with 2 aces, while the Wolfpack totaled 6 aces as a team.
Defensively, Mackling anchored the back row with 27 digs and an impressive 36 serve receive passes, showcasing her all-around skill. Tornez also delivered a strong defensive performance, contributing 34 serve receive passes to keep the Wolfpack’s passing game steady.
Though the loss was a tough one, the match demonstrated TCNE’s resilience and teamwork in high-pressure moments. With the result, the Wolfpack’s record moves to 14-4 on the season as they continue through regular season play.
The Pack will look to regroup and refocus as they prepare for the Hartington-Newcastle Tournament on Saturday October 11th, determined to turn Thursday’s heartbreak into fuel for a strong finish to the regular season.