Not every volleyball trip has to be a serious showdown. No. 12 Lisbon went 2-2 at the Kepros Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Crestwood High School in Cresco.
But the Lions enjoyed pizza and bowling the night before in nearby Decorah during an overnight trip near the Minnesota border.
“We did some team bonding stuff,” Lisbon coach Lance Kamaus said. “And along the way you get to play some competitive volleyball, which helps out, as well.”
Crestwood happens to be Kamaus’ alma mater, and the Lions have been making the long bus ride for many years now.
“It is a pretty good deal,” Kamaus said. “The kids fundraised to pay for this, selling cupcakes, etc., and they enjoyed it a lot. The volleyball is icing on top of the cake.”
In pool play, Lisbon beat Clayton Ridge 21-13, 17-21, 15-10 and Waukon 21-19, 21-17, before falling to North Fayette Valley 16-21, 21-12, 15-11.
That set up a winner’s bracket semifinal against Crestwood, and the host team won, 21-18, 21-17.
During pool action Mykala Luzum-Selmon had 41 kills to pace the offense. Kamryn Kahl had 20 kills and Sarah Dietsch added nine. Kaitlynn Hasselbusch had 71 assists and libero Kyla Kahl led with 33 digs.
Earlier in the week, the Lions lost a Tri-Rivers cross-division showdown at Springville, 25-21, 18-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-13.
“Just a lot of unforced errors on our behalf,” Kamaus said. “A lot of hitting errors that were not reflective of who we were.”
Up two sets to zero, the Lions lost the final two sets by two points, each.
“I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve been up 2-1 and lost the match,” Kamaus said. “Credit to them, they fought back. They are one of the top teams in the area in 1A.”
Hasselbusch had 43 assists in that five-set showdown. Luzum Selmon had 18 kills, Dietsch had 14 and Kamryn Kahl added 12.
Freshman Kyla Kahl led with 20 digs. Rowan Jacobi paced the Orioles with a match-high 23 kills. The good thing is the match doesn’t count in the Tri-Rivers West, where the Lions (7-4) are going for their eighth title in a row this fall. That starts Thursday, Sept. 19, with a home match against Calamus-Wheatland.
Then Lisbon hosts its annual Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, starting at 9 a.m. in the Lion’s Den. It is going to be a barnburner,” Kamaus said. The nine-team field includes No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity and No. 9 (2A) West Burlington, among others.