Ipswich fans definitely had reason to celebrate a homecourt 3-0 non-conference high school volleyball win over Highmore-Harrold last Thursday in the Tiger Den. For one thing it was the Tigers' first win of the young season and secondly the 200th career coaching victory for Coach Trent Osborne!

"Yep #200," said coach Osborne. "I started way back in 1995-96 and have five different coaching stints with lots of breaks and years in between."

The visiting Pirates would hang around in each of the remaining sets vs. Ipswich, after dropping their opener 25-14. (Ipswich had pulled away in the second half of that set and then staved off H-H 25-21 in set number two, thanks to a Gracie Lange tip-kill.) And Ipswich ended the match with an even closer 25-23 outcome that again utilized a Lange kill. (In that set the Tigers rallied from an early deficit and gradually restored order.)

The Tigers compiled a 50-68 net attack that featured 29 kills. Lange finished 26-31 with 13 kills and Baylee Kulesa was next with a 13-15 evening that included eight kills. The Pirates were 41-52 at the net with 15 kills. (Alexis Roth went 13-16 with six kills and Letha Jessen was 12-16 with five kills.)

Ipswich initiated its offense with an overall 58-71 serving evening that featured a dozen aces. Katie Bierman landed seven aces during her 17-19 night at the service line and Kulesa added a 8-8 two-ace effort. The Pirates countered with a 47-56 evening with two aces.

Ipswich finished 37-39 in setting attempts and included 22 assists all courtesy of Quincy Olivier. The visitors were 55-55 in their setting duties with 14 assists.

The Tiger defenders came up with a total of 47 digs; H-H, 56. Bierman ended up with eight digs and Olivier, seven. Ipswich also utilized five solo blocks and six assisted blocks. Olivier led with one solo and three assists, followed by Tasia Rivera with one solo and one assist.

Ipswich was then scheduled to host Groton on August 31 and will then also play host to Waubay/Summit on September 2.