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sports
IRON RIVER — For a while there, the West Iron County volleyball team didn’t know if it would have a season at all, given current concerns about hosting matches between schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Well, after much discussion at the state and regional level, the volleyball season is a go and the Wykons began the new campaign with 25-12, 30-28, 25-18 sweep of host Ishpeming on Aug. 27.
West Iron used a balanced effort to subdue the Hematites. Jordan Shamion had six kills and 18 service points, including three aces to pace her team. Olivia Kerttu added five kills and 19 points (four aces), Teagan Leonarduzzi and McKenna Kegley recorded three kills each while Sam Herman and Ella Maloney added two kills each for the Wykons.
Herman and Danielle Polzin contributed two aces as well.
First-year coach Kelly Sartorelli liked what she saw from her team on opening night.
“The girls played well .... The first set was pretty much a breeze, which is not beneficial because we get too comfortable. The second set was neck-and-neck the entire time, but our girls persevered. They never gave up. The third set, we could see that some of the players from the opposing team were becoming tired. We played and took advantage of every opportunity to place the ball where we knew they were possibly weak.”
West Iron swept all three matches on the evening, as both the junior varsity and freshmen squads prevailed.
The Wykons will travel to Calumet on Thursday before welcoming Gwinn in their home opener on Sept. 8.