J.H. Lady Tigers bring back the trophy

During their final practice before the tournament Saturday, the Encampment Lady Tigers junior high school volleyball team started saying "Bring it Back." They would huddle with the trophy in the middle and say "Bring it Back," according to head coach Sammy Baysinger.

"It set the tone for the tournament," Baysinger said. Going in ranked third, the girls knew they would have to work hard to bring the trophy back.

Encampment had a nearly flawless record last year when they brought the trophy home for the first time in 23 years.

This year, they had an 11-5 record.

The first game was played against the Little Snake River Valley's (LSRV) B team. After winning that game, they played Saratoga in the semi-finals to get into the championship game against LSRV's A team.

"(The game against Saratoga) was super intense and close," Baysinger said. The match went to three sets. "It was a really great game and I congratulate Saratoga on a game well played."

Encampment had lost to Saratoga twice during the season, so the Lady Tigers wanted to come out with something to prove, Baysinger said.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game and had prepared all week working on serve receive and defense," Baysinger added.

Saratoga went on to place third in the tournament, but Baysinger said playing Saratoga was the toughest game of the tournament.

Against the LSRV A team, Baysinger was impressed with the way her girls came out in the first match. "They played every point as if it were game point," she said.

The Tigers won in two sets. "You could tell they wanted it and were on a mission to be champions once again and bring it back."

Makiya Johnson was a solid player at the net all day, Baysinger said. "She had some very well placed hits."

Kamry Knotwell also played the net well, Baysinger said. Knotwell had some great hits off overpasses.

Katie Russell was a key player in every game with her serving, according to Baysinger. Russell earned the name Rocket Serve Russell from LSRV's principal.

Earlier in the week, the team was not meshing like Baysinger had hoped, so she made some changes in the line up. She moved Ryley Little from setter to outside hitter and it made a huge difference having another strong hitter, Baysinger said.

All three of her eighth grade players stepped up as leaders this year, Baysinger said. She is very proud to be sending them off to play with the high school coach, Robin O'Leary, next year.

Sixth grader Ashton Powell is proving to be irreplaceable as a libero on the team, Baysinger said.

Powell's older sisters are varsity players for the high school team. "(Ashton) is so mentally strong for as young as she is and it is exciting to see," Baysinger said. The coach credits Powell for getting the other girls on the team to play harder and be more intense.

Not to be overlooked, Baysinger's seventh grade setters Ryley Henrie and Lexi Herring did a great job of mixing up who they were going to set up. Herring had some very good tips, Baysinger said.

With only one returning full-time starter in Johnson, Baysinger had some trial and error to figure out which girls worked best together. "That is always a challenge," Baysinger said. She believes they pulled it off at the right point this year. "The way they played at the tournament was the way we had been trying to get them to play all year," Baysinger said.

"I am so very proud of them and that they played as a team."

Baysinger added she appreciated all of the support the team has received this year from the Tiger Nation.