Indians cruise to opening win (08/30/06)

UNION CITY, Ohio - The Indians' debut was a good one.

Fort Recovery's volleyball team won its season-opener Tuesday, topping the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks 26-24, 25-15, 25-16.

Abby Niekamp racked up 44 assists and added 16 kills in the Indians' first match under coach Brad Smith.

A large portion of Niekamp's assists went to fellow senior Tiff Gaerke, who pounded 19 kills.

Lauren Wenning had a team-high 19 points to go along with nine kills. Brittany Brackman had 14 points, and Kinsey Wenning notched 10 kills.

Junior varsity

Both games were close, but Fort Recovery came out on top in a 25-22, 25-23 victory over the Blackhawks.

Heather Schmackers paced the effort with 19 points, and Beth May added 11.

Freshman

FORT RECOVERY - The Indians fought back in the second game, but couldn't stop the visiting New Bremen Cardinals in a 25-16, 17-25, 25-22 defeat.

Emily May led Fort Recovery with team highs of three kills and three digs. She also had eight points and one block.

Chelsey Leuthold scored nine points, and Josie Guggenbiller put up six assists. Lorraine Shier had three blocks and two kills, Alyssa Brackman notched three digs and Lauren Staugler finished with two blocks.

Junior high

ROCKFORD, Ohio - Fort Recovery took a pair of season-opening losses to the Parkway Panthers. The Indian eighth grade team fell 25-16, 25-22, and the seventh graders lost 25-11, 25-13.

Olivia Thien finished with four kills, one block and one dig for the eighth grade squad. Kendra Brunswick scored five points, Deanna Hemmelgarn had four points and Holly Thien totaled three kills.

Kyle Kahlig led the seventh grade team with six points and one kill. Danielle Bihn also finished with one kill.[[In-content Ad]]