Lady Wolverines turn tables on Norwood YA
October 30th, 2008Many sports enthusiasts believe it is tough to beat the same team three times in a season.
Fortunately, that thinking rang true Thursday as Sibley East’s volleyball team swept host Norwood Young America in sub-section quarterfinal action.
Scores from the match were 25-22, 29-27 and 25-15. In two previous meetings this season, NYA defeated the Lady Wolverines 3-2 and 3-1.
A fast start by NYA’s Central Raiders didn’t stop the Wolverines from winning game one. Sibley East fell behind 5-1 but charged back behind the serving of Lindsay Thomes and the spiking of Ashley Martens.
More points with Thomes at the serving line and solid net play by Hailey Becker enabled the Wolverines to eventually build at 23-15 lead. Central then rattled off six straight points but could not complete the comeback.
Game two was a seesaw battle, according to Sibley East coach Chip Wolverton. He said his team carried the lead throughout much of the first rotation and at one point led 13-8. But, NYA would battle back and eventually netted a 20-17 advantage.
It was an exciting stretch run in game three as the game was tied at 22, 23 and 24. Sibley East fought off a second game point with a Thomes kill. The senior spiker would continue to make clutch plays. Another winning spike by Thomes kept the Wolverines alive in the game. She would later give Sibley East the victory with an ace serve.
Several side outs enabled the Wolverines to cruise to victory in game three.
“We rode the wave of energy we had created in our big game two win,” coach Wolverton said. “NYA meanwhile looked as though its bubble had burst and never really got into this deciding game.”
Thomes finished the night with a team high 12 kills. She also contributed two blocks.
Becker and Marie Rose also gave the Wolverines a boost at the net. They combined for four blocks and, according to Wolverton, had many touches on blocks all night.
It was fine all-around performance for Martens. She was 13 for 13 from the service line with one ace. Martens also charted eleven kills and 18 digs.
Senior Megan Meyer and sophomore Val Kloeckl pitched in defensively with 12 digs apiece while junior Erin Evans tossed up a team high 32 set assists for Sibley East.
