MONTGOMERY – It was a memorable and very successful season for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva volleyball team.

Tuesday, October 30, 2001

MONTGOMERY – It was a memorable and very successful season for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva volleyball team.

And the Panthers didn’t let it end without a fight.

Seeded third in the Section 2A, Sub-Section AA East Tournament, the Panthers gave second-seeded Kasson-Mantorville a battle before falling 3-0 at Montgomery Saturday night. The KoMets won 15-13, 18-16, 15-7.

&uot;We played as good of volleyball as we have all year,&uot; said Panthers coach Jackie Schultz, whose team finished 20-7. &uot;It could have gone either way.&uot;

It went the KoMets’ way, according to Schultz, because they were able to win the first two games that went to the wire.

The Panthers lost both despite leading late, 13-11 in the opener and 14-12 in game two. NRHEG led 7-5 in the third game.

&uot;When you get down 0-2 after already playing with everything you’ve got, it’s hard to come back,&uot; said Schultz. &uot;It was a great effort by our girls.&uot;

Elizabeth Schultz was a force at the net with 12 kills, 10 on spikes and two on tips, and eight solo blocks, six for points.

Kelli Schlaak had eight kills, was 16-for-16 serving with seven points and went 23-for-25 on serve receive.

Other NRHEG statistics: Erin Anderson, 22 assists; Rachel Andree, 12-for-12 serving; Ellen Johnson, four aces, nine digs; Megan Routh, 13-for-13 serving; Camille Kyte, three kills.