Comeback equals cure

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ROCK FALLS – The first pill was bitter.

The next two proved to be better medicine for the Rock Falls volleyball team.

In the end, the Rockets felt temporarily cured of all woes after winning Thursday’s Class 2A Rock Falls Regional semifinal against Oregon, 15-25, 25-21, 25-20.

“We were all scared coming out tonight because so many of us were sick,” Rock Falls senior Ellie Henson said. “One girl has the flu, I have a microplasm, and Vicki [Jones] and Cheyenne [Burnett]. It was rough.”

The Hawks came out ready to make the Rockets feel worse. Led by Niatha Cullen’s hitting and Karly Koch’s serving, Oregon jumped to a quick 10-3 lead.

“We came out playing great,” said Koch, a sophomore. “We have a very young team, so it was important that we come out strong. I am proud of how we played.”

Cullen had six of her 16 kills in the first game of her final high school match. Koch served up three consecutive aces in a five-point run to put Oregon up 8-2.

“We scouted them and knew that No. 11 was good,” Rock Falls coach Sheila Mammosser said, referring to Cullen. “That first game, she was killing everything down. I think it took the girls awhile to adjust to her, but they improved defending her hits after that.”

It was the Rockets’ turn in Game 2 to jump to an early lead. Rock Falls (18-16) took a 10-4 lead as hitters Henson, Jordan Giddings, Linsey Brown and Morgan Mammosser all started making plays.

Giddings, a freshman, spelled Henson in the middle much of the match.

“Jordan really stepped up at the net for us,” Henson said. “She set a tone by getting some blocks and kills.”

Giddings finished with nine kills and three blocks. Henson had eight kills.

While Giddings and Henson worked the middle of the net, it was the cross-court passing of Burnett, a sophomore, to Brown, a freshman hitter, that put Oregon on its heels. Brown had nine kills, and Burnett had 10 assists.

“We’ve only had Cheyenne up for a couple weeks, but she’s really fit in,” Sheila Mammosser said. “Linsey is just an athlete. Sometimes she needs a push, but once she gets going, it’s fun to watch.”

Rock Falls led much of the third game. Oregon made a run behind five straight serves by Cullen to tie the score 18-18.

A few lapses in communication by the Hawks after that opened the door for Rock Falls to close the match on a 7-2 run.

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