The late Yogi Berra is often quoted as saying, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over,” and the Greene County High School volleyball team made a believer out of the faithful on Saturday at the Ram Invitational at the high school gym in Jefferson. ‘Not only had the Rams not won their tournament in the four previous seasons it’s been held, but they had not been to the final before yesterday.

All Chris Heisterkamp’s team did was go 4-1 in matches, 8-3 in sets, finish second in pool play, advance to the semifinals, knock of Class 3A number 14 Van Meter in that round, then upend the Carroll Tigers in the Championship after the Tigers had won two sets in a row vs. the Rams in pool play! As if that wasn’t enough, the best two of three match vs. Carroll for the title was tied at one win apiece and the deciding set to 15 points saw the Tigers lead 10-3, AND THE RAMS WON!

The title match saw the Rams win 17-21, 21-12, 16-14, after the Rams knocked off VM in two sets 21-16, 22-20. Pool play for the Rams started at 9 a.m. with a 21-8, 21-9 victory vs. Nodaway Valley )Greenfield), then came the pool play loss to Carroll 11-21, 20-22, the Tigers scored the last nine points in the second set after the Rams lost a 20-13 lead. The final pool play match saw the Rams down Stanton’s Viqueens 21-12, 21-17.

Coach Heisterkamp reports sophomore Hanna Fouch led the team in kills with 36, followed by 28 from senior Lila Osterson, and 21 for junior Makenna Ebersole. Junior Bellah Johnson had 37 digs with 18 from sophomore Madi Skalla, 15 for senior Natalee Baugh, and 13 from senior Addison Gannon. Greene County’s success came from various sources, including servers. The Rams were a spectacular 190 for 200 from the service line for 95%. “Only 10 misses all day-exceptional!” said the coach.

Greene County remains at home with a Heart of Iowa Activities Conference match tomorrow vs. West Marshall (State Center).