What a difference a year makes! Last year the Ipswich Lady Tiger netters were 1-3 during a high school volleyball invitation at Britton-Hecla. This year, though, the IHS volleyball team improved to 3-1 at the meet, losing only to Langford Area. That gave Ipswich second-place honors at the event and also congratulations go to Ipswich coach Trent Osborne for his 150th career volleyball victory.

Against Leola-Frederick, Ipswich won 25-10 and 25-16. Abby Grabowska was 36-40 in hitting and included a dozen kills. Lindsey Grabowska added four kills among her 12 hits in 13 tries. Altogether Ipswich was 75-81 at the net with 21 kills. And that was made possible by setters Halle Heinz and Bailey Pitz. Heinz went 51-51 with 11 assists and Pitz, 40-40 with nine assists. At the service line Ipswich finished 33-39 with four aces. Lindsey Grabowska was 11-12 with three aces. (Abby Grabowska included the remaining service ace.)

Ipswich totaled 58 digs, led by Lindsey Grabowska, Chesney Olivier and Abby Grabowska with 13 digs apiece.

Ipswich also defeated the host team, Britton-Hecla in straight sets, 25-18 and 25-10. That was helped by a 96-102 hitting effort, including 28 kills. Thirteen of them were recorded by Abby Grabowska in her overall 47-49 net effort. Lindsey Grabowska was next at 17 hits in 18 tries with six of them being kills. Again credit the setters. Heinz was 42-44 in that department with 15 assists and Pitz 53-54 with 10 assists. The service line was an assort for Ipswich, 44-48, with four aces. Olivier was 11-11 at the line with two aces. Avery Sylte included an ace among her seven accurate serves in eight tries and Heinz landed the other ace. She was 6-7 overall.

In defense, Ipswich collected 75 digs with 30 of them courtesy of Abby Grabowska. Olivier also reached double-figures with 15, as did Lindsey Grabowska with 12.

Meanwhile, identical 25-17 wins would do the job in Ipswich's 2-0 dominance over Herreid-Selby Area. Ipswich utilized a 64-75 net attack with 19 kills. Abby Grabowska led the effort with 10 kills and she went 20-22 overall. Sylte was an additional 13-13 with five kills. Heinz finished 13-15 with three kills. She also found the time for 46 errorless sets and included 13 assists. Pitz was again next with a 14-14 setting performance that included four assists. Altogether Ipswich dished out 19 assists and didn't incur a single setting error. At the service line Ipswich went 46-49 with nine aces, led by Heinz with five aces among her 14 serves in 16 attempts. Lindsey Grabowska was 16-16 at the line with three aces and Olivier added the remaining Lady Tiger ace.

The digging effort of 54 was led by Abby Grabowska with 16 and Lindsey Grabowska and Olivier with 12 each.

Meanwhile, Ipswich gave a solid effort against Langford Area, especially in the opening set, which the Lady Tigers eventually lost 25-21. They would then drop the second set 25-17.

Ipswich finished 50-60 at the net with 19 kills, again led by Abby Grabowska, 26-28 with 12 kills. Halie Feldman was also 8-9 at the net with four kills. Ipswich ended up with 65 sets that included 19 assists. Heinz was a perfect 40 with 13 assists and Pitz, 19-20 with four assists. In serving, Ipswich finished 49-49 with nine aces and was led by Bailey Pitz with 12 accurate serves that included four aces.

In digs, Ipswich recorded 45, paced by Abby Grabowkska with 11 and Olivier with 10.

Ipswich improved to 9-6 pending a September 18 homecourt date with Potter County. The Lady Tigers will also get an oppportunity to avenge that loss to Langford Area with a homecourt Lake Region Conference match against the Lions on September 20.