Junior Landry August (25) goes up for the attack against BGM’s Kylie Arment (6) during GMG’s Aug. 29 non-conference volleyball match in Garwin. The Wolverines won in three sets. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

GARWIN — GMG volleyball hopes it has set the tone for the season to come with a resilient, season-opening victory over BGM at GMG High School on Thursday, Aug. 29..

The Wolverines fought out of deficits in the first and third sets to secure a 3-0 sweep of the Bears (2-1), 25-23, 25-21, 25-21.

“This is absolutely awesome,” GMG senior Anna Mussig said. “I think it just sets the entire dynamic for the team. … Usually we have those first game kind of nerves and I think we shook those off magnificently.”

Olivia Maddux led the Wolverines with 10 kills and Mussig added six. Landry August, Makayla Pendleton and Rhianna Murty added four kills each.

GMG led 12-8 in the first set before BGM came out of a timeout to go on a 13-3 rally for a 21-15 Bears lead. A service error gave the Wolverines an opening and the teams battled to a 23-23 tie, and a GMG kill and BGM hitting error sealed the first set for the hosts.

Senior Anna Mussig (17) tries for the block against BGM attacker Ana Coleman (3) during GMG’s Aug. 29 non-conference volleyball match in Garwin. Mussig finished with a team-high three blocks. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

“If the girls are missing something, hitting it into the net, hitting it out, I’ve been telling them to just focus on the next play,” GMG head coach Justina Eggers said. “That’s all you can do, just make up from the last point. … They were definitely working together in working out of those deficits.”

GMG was error-prone in the second set but BGM didn’t score more than two points in a row all set. The Bears still got within 23-21 late but another attack error, followed by a Murty kill, gave the Wolverines the 2-0 advantage.

The third set featured another massive rally from GMG — trailing 20-17, the Wolverines ripped off seven consecutive points to get to match point and won it two rally points later.

BGM had a shifty attack, but GMG managed it well behind 10 digs each from August and Aubree Runner.

“We had amazing defense on their swings,” Eggers said. “They had some pretty hard hitters out there, and I would say our back row players were able to get it up every time, that was awesome to see.”

PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Mussig is one of four seniors on this year’s Wolverine squad along with Rexanna Millard and fellow co-captains Olivia Maddux and Aubree Runner.

“Team bonding is such a big thing for us this year,” Mussig said. “We’ve got the smallest team we’ve had in years, and so we’re just making sure to build connections with everyone of us. … Hanging out after school, we even did karaoke at my house, that was awesome, but also just at practices cheering each other and making sure that we’re all supporting each other.”

GMG is looking to build on a regional quarterfinal run last season with five returning players with starting experience.

“I see a lot more of them just coming together and saying, ‘What can we work on for this next play to work out for us,'” Eggers said. “They’re really coming together on the court to talk things out.”

The Wolverines were headed to a Colfax-Mingo tournament on Saturday, Aug. 31.

GMG volleyball players (from left) Landry August, Rhianna Murty, Aubree Runner, Hadlee Hempy, Olivia Maddux and Ava Maddux celebrate a point during their win over BGM. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

“I hope they take the positive attitudes they had tonight with them,” Eggers said. “They’ve seen now how hard they can hit and how hard they can play so we hope we can keep it up and win against some teams this weekend as well.”