Lady Tigers light up match

owed what they were made of once again winning three against Rock River Friday evening.

The Tigers defeated the Lady Longhorns with scores of 25-20, 25-19, 25-27 and 26-24, after beating them with one formal game and one tournament game earlier in 2013. Friday’s match looked to be all Tigers during the first two games, until Rock River bounced back with a winning third game and close call in winning the fourth.

Coach Robin O’Leary said her girls won the match by staying focused, even with the grueling play of the last two games.

“We were starting to get tired, and there are a few things that slow down when you’re tired,” she said. “One of those things is getting your arms up. People don’t think about that and instead think about swinging hard, but things go wrong when your arms don’t come up fast enough. One of the things we talked about at time out was, ‘Make sure you get your arms up high enough,’ and then our hits started going over again.”

O’Leary said she was impressed with her girls for their sets, defense, hard hits and other qualities throughout the match.

“The defense of Kaylyn and Emily was awesome, and hitters Cassidy, Jenny and McKenzie were awesome,” she said. “Sierra sets were also beautiful.”

Although this is the third time Encampment has beaten Rock River, O’Leary said the Lady Longhorns are still a force to be reckoned with. She said they will likely be a tough competitor at regionals and state.

“Rock River is a very strong team, and you have to play really good against them to win,” she said. “You can’t even really have one person off, of they’ll pick them to pieces. People underestimate them, and they’re going to surprise people at regionals and state because when they hit, they’re a tough team to beat.”

Several Lady Tigers were also pleased and surprised with their outstanding win, and mentioned teamwork and never giving up as an important strengths during the match. Senior Jenny Morgan said the team strived to get a hit each time and never gave up.

“I think we pulled through because we have heart and we gave it all for every ball,” she said. “We were hitting the floor and going for everything. Our team unity is also great because we work together as one.”

Cassidy Little said team encouragement played a major part in the overall win.

“Our team was all-encouraging, and we all played as one,” she said. “We all encouraged each other and when we messed up, we would shake it off and get a good hit.”

Sierra Loftice said better communication helped the team with the fourth and final game.

“I think we started talking more, and I think we just started playing as a team,” she said. “In the third quarter we just stopped talking and kind of let it just go.”

Friday’s victory was also welcome comeback after a 20-25, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25 Tiger loss against North Park’s Lady Wildcats Sept. 24. Encampment also played HEM Saturday, winning with three out of five (23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-10, 15-11).

“Our hitters were really off in the beginning of the Hanna game and my assistant and I were giving a lot of instruction from the bench, but it didn’t seem to be doing much good,” O’Leary said. “Between the third and fourth game we just had the team go out on the floor and figure out how to play as a team. They did a great job banding together and playing for the fourth and fifth game. Kaylyn started us off with nine serves, giving us a good lead.”

The Lady Tigers faced off against the Lady Wildcats again Tuesday, but those scores were also unavailable at press time.

Up next for Encampment is a Homecoming face-off against the Saratoga Panthers, which takes place at 4 p.m. Friday at Saratoga High School.

Varsity scores

9/28/13 vs. HEM

23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-10,

15-11, Win

Kaylyn Wessel: 28/29 for serves, 10 aces, 4 kills, 24 digs, 1 block

Jennifer Morgan: 12/12 for serves, 1 ace, 15 kills, 36 digs

Cassidy Little: 12/14 for serves, 21 kills, 34 digs, 6 blocks

Sierra Loftice: 19/19 for serves, 5 digs,

Emily Morgan: 17/17 for serves, 2 aces, 1 kill, 12 digs

McKenzie Powell: 11/12 for serves, 7 kills, 24 digs

9/27/13 vs. Rock River

25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 26-24, Win

Kaylyn Wessel: 13/14 for serves, 6 kills, 24 digs, 3 blocks

Jennifer Morgan: 13/16 for serves, 15 kills, 33 digs, 2 blocks

Cassidy Little: 13/14 for serves, 1 ace, 11 kills, 23 digs, 1 block

Sierra Loftice: 12/14 for serves, 7 digs

Emily Morgan: 10/11 for serves, 1 kill, 18 digs

McKenzie Powell: 8/10 for serves, 8 kills, 22 digs

9/24/13 vs. Walden

20-25, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, Loss

Kaylyn Wessel: 13/14 for serves, 2 aces, 4 kills, 42 digs, 3 blocks

Jennifer Morgan: 7/9 for serves, 1 ace, 8 kills, 30 digs

Cassidy Little: 2/4 for serves, 2 aces, 2 kills, 26 digs, 4 blocks

Sierra Loftice: 9/11 for serves, 1 ace, 2 digs,

Emily Morgan: 15/16 for serves, 4 aces, 18 digs, 1 block

McKenzie Powell: 10/11 for serves, 7 kills, 15 digs

Randa Sorensen: 9/9 for serves

JV scores

9/28/13 vs. HEM

25-23, 18-25, 25-23, Won

9/27/13 vs. Rock River

25-16, 25-14, Won

9/24/13 vs. Walden

20-25, 23-25, Loss