ST. LOUIS — York had a mixed day at the Eutectics Classic, first defeating Rust 3-1 and then falling to Freed-Hardeman 3-2.
In the match against Rust, York overcame a tough start after dropping the opening set 19-25. The Panthers rallied to win the final three sets 25-19, 25-15, and 25-13. The turning point came in the second set when York built an early 9-2 lead, highlighted by kills from
Jassania Joseph,
Maria Del Mar Rivera,
Leyra Ruiz, and
Ronan Merriex, along with two service aces from
Ileysha Rodriguez. After a strong finish in the third set, including a block by
Isidora Diaz Aguirre and late kills from
Emma Kerley and
Madilyn De La Garza, York dominated the fourth set with a series of points to secure the match.
Player Highlights:
-
Ronan Merriex led York with 13 kills while hitting .500 and added a block assist.
-
Ileysha Rodriguez served five aces and collected four digs.
-
Ambar Ortiz posted 16 digs, three service aces, and three assists.
-
Meadow Nusbaum finished with 16 assists, seven digs, and one ace.
In the match against Freed-Hardeman, York started strong, winning the first set 26-24 after a late rally. However, they struggled to maintain momentum and lost the second set 25-16 despite a valiant effort. The third set saw York take the lead at 17-15 with kills from
Jassania Joseph and back-to-back kills from
Florencia Felmer, but Freed-Hardeman surged back to take the set 25-20. York responded with a commanding 25-14 win in the fourth set, showcasing strong performances from
Madilyn De La Garza and
Kory Anschutz.
However, in the deciding fifth set, Freed-Hardeman pulled ahead after taking advantage of York's errors, ultimately finishing the match with a 15-9 win.
Player Highlights:
-
Madilyn De La Garza led York with 12 kills while hitting .310 and added six digs.
-
Ambar Ortiz recorded 24 digs and three service aces.
-
Kory Anschutz finished with 23 assists, four digs, and one service ace.
-
Valentina Jimenez collected 19 digs.
Up next, York volleyball team hosts Faith Baptist on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at 5 p.m. in York, Nebraska.
