Heritage Volleyball wins Arcola Invitational, VGH football captures homecoming win
BY FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
Heritage Volleyball
Bri Struck reached double figures in kills and Anna Sanders had double figures in digs, but the Hawks were decisioned at home on Thursday by Cumberland 25-17, 25-22.
Struck had a team-high 10 kills. Sanders led the way with 10 digs, three more than Struck.
Olivia Sorensen handed out 21 assists. Bree Buck added four kills and Kiley Knoll contributed three kills.
The Hawks rebounded from the loss to Cumberland by sweeping four opponents to capture the championship in Saturday’s Arcola Invitational.
Heritage had multiple contributors for the day.
Sorensen delivered 78 assists and added 18 digs, six kills and four aces.
Struck pounded 38 kills and chipped in with 15 digs and five aces.
Buck was the leader in blocks (seven) and also registered 15 kills and five aces.
Malanie Smithenry had 15 kills and nine digs. Anna Sanders had 14 digs.
Knoll finished with 14 kills and 21 digs. Torie Rothermel had three blocks and two aces.
For the day, Heritage topped Arcola 25-23, 25-22, Sullivan 25-12, 25-6, Marshall 25-16, 25-21 and, in the championship match, Central A&M 25-22, 25-20.
Heritage (17-4) returns to action tonight at home against Tuscola.
In Lincoln Prairie Conference matches, the Hawks are 4-2.
Villa Grove Volleyball
The Blue Devils (7-8) on Thursday dropped their second consecutive match, losing to Blue Ridge, 25-17, 25-22.
Villa Grove/Heritage Football
Blake Smith completed 4 of 5 passes – three going for touchdowns – and also ran for a TD on Friday as the Blue Devils won their homecoming game, 55-7 over Cerro Gordo/Bement.
Smith passed for 148 yards. He hooked up with Ierik Sorensen on a 66-yard score less than 2 ½ minutes into the game.
Before the first period had ended, Smith passed 19 yards to Ezra Ely for a TD.
VG/H added four second-quarter TDs and led 41-0 at the break. The entire second half was played with a running clock. Carson Howard caught a 33-yard scoring strike from Smith.
Luke Zimmerman rushed for two second-half scores. Ely also had a TD run in addition to booting three extra points. Smith and Logan Nohren scored two-point conversions.
Nine Blue Devils carried the ball. The rushing leaders were Elijah Kiesel (66 yards), Ely (49 yards) and Kehm Shirley (40 yards).
VG/H (3-2) has a two-game winning streak and has collected 109 points in the last two weeks.
“Blake Smith has stepped into the quarterback role quite nicely,” VG/H coach Heath Wilson said. “He was all-conference defensive back last year, and this year we asked him to play quarterback.
“He is probably our fastest athlete we have. Dual threat for sure. He can throw and can run.”
The Blue Devils have an assortment of options in their running game.
“We have Ezra Ely, Kehm Shirley, Nick Coffin and Chase Burwell,” Wilson said. “Nice to have many guys that can step in that role. Up front, we have senior heavy offensive lineman. Ierik Sorensen and Carson Howard are big targets for us at wide receiver.”
The lone Cerro Gordo/Bement score on Friday came on an 82-yard kickoff return.
“Defensively Zayzon Price and Logan Nohren run the linebackers, and our defense lineman are a load to deal with: Carson Howard, Clayton Knierim, Tanner Clodfelter and Christian Ziemisky.
This team is building confidence and should be fun the next five weeks and hopefully many weeks after.”
VG/H returns to action on Friday at home against Argenta-Oreana (4-1) in a Lincoln Prairie Conference game. The Blue Devils are 2-1 in league counters.
