ST. PAUL - There was a ton of volleyball played here Monday, Sept. 21. And while the Altoona-Midway Middle School squad failed to come away with any victories in the quadrangular, the Lady Jets were competitive virtually the entire day.

AMHS lost in straight sets against Thayer, St. Paul, and St. Patricks, and also lost a single set in “B” action against each foe.

“Overall, the A team girls played the best ball I’ve seen them ever play tonight,” said Lady Jets coach Lacy Wheeler. “Their confidence is growing to where they are finally going for and getting the assists and hits. We are making all steps in the right direction. I am very proud of them.

“The B team also played their best overall yet as well,” Wheeler continued. “They are getting more aggressive at going after the ball and getting much better at communicating by calling it, or when a ball is out. We are all excited for our next games at Oswego.”

AMMS (1-8) is scheduled to travel to Oswego on Monday, Sept. 28. The Jets will square off against Edna and the host Indians, beginning at 4 o’clock.

Altoona-Midway will return home on Thursday, Oct. 1, for a dual match against Tyro Christian School. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. at Milo Peterson Gymnasium.

AMHS vs. Thayer

Thayer won 25-14, 25-16.

“The girls are really starting to recognize when they can and should go for a hit. It’s so fun to watch them grow,” Wheeler said. “Even though we weren’t able to pull off a win they played their hearts out. “45 digs in one game (the first set) is a record for us. There were some really great volleys that just didn’t go our way.”

Ainsley Wheeler led the Jets with 16 points, including six aces, to go along with 21 digs and a kill. Makayla Mustain finished with 18 digs, four points and two aces, while Teryn Ellsworth and Emily Lockhart had three points apiece and finished with 17 and 12 digs, respectively.

McKenna Matlock notched two points and eight digs while Emma Kinzle recorded two points and seven digs. Wheeler, Mustain, Kinzle and Matlock all had kills.

Thayer also won the “B” matchup 25-10. Kinzle had three points while Daisy Dalton and Nickee Rayann each tallied two points and Lakyn Faller and Kira Adams added one apiece.

AMMS vs. St. Paul

The host Indians posted a 25-6, 25-12 victory in this match.

“St. Paul is a tough team. They are a tough team with lots of upperclassmen, but the girls never gave up and kept their heads up,” Wheeler exclaimed. “In the second set we were much improved. We came out seriously wanting to do better, and we did.”

Wheeler paced the attack with seven points and 14 digs, while Lockhart tallied five points and nine digs. Each also recorded two hits and an ace.

Mustain and Ellsworth chipped in two points apiece, and Kinzle and Matlock each had one. Mustain and Kinzle had four digs while Matlock and Ellsworth tallied three. Kinzle also added a hit.

St. Paul also won the “B” set 25-8. Kinzle notched 4 points, 3 aces, and 2 digs. Ellsworth compiled 4 points, 2 aces, and 1 dig. Dalton finished with 4 digs, while Rayann and Adams added one apiece.

AMMS vs. St. Pats

In the finale, the Lady Jets fell to St. Patrick’s by identical sets of 25-10.

“The girls hustled, but they looked tired and I think they were just running out of gas by this game,” Wheeler noted. “Even though it didn’t show in the score, the girls looked better in the second set. They went for the ball and made good decisions. They had a surge of energy to end the night.”

Wheeler, Lockhart, and Matlock each recorded four points in the match while Mustain and Kinzle added three apiece and Ellsworth two.

Wheeler combined for 14 digs in the two sets, while Mustain finished with nine, Ellsworth six, Kinzle and Lockhart five each and Matlock three. Matlock led the squad with a pair of aces while Wheeler notched a kill via an assist from Lockhart.

St. Patrick’s also claimed the “B” set, 25-9. Kinzle was penciled for four points, three aces and a dig, while Ellsworth finished with two points and one dig. Dalton, Rayann and Faller scored one point apiece. Dalton also notched five digs and Faller chipped in with two.

“The B team is getting so much better at playing until the ball hits the floor,” Wheeler said. “They are really starting to go after it.”