Sports » Local Sports

Subscribe

Lady Leps win first playoff match since 2003

Van Vleck volleyball teammates celebrate after scoring a point during their playoff game against Odem on Tuesday at Memorial senior campus gym.
  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •
  • BY JACK MOLITOR - JMOLITOR@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published November 3, 2009 at 10:57 p.m., updated November 3, 2009 at 11 p.m.

Kyrsten Blackmon was not quite ready for the intensity of playoffs volleyball. In fact, none of the Van Vleck Lady Leps were.

Luckily for them, they were just ready enough.

In the playoffs for the first time since 2003, the Lady Leps (15-22) edged the Odem Lady Owls (13-13) in five games, 25-8, 25-19, 15-25, 22-25, 15-8 to win their Class 2A bi-district round game at the MHS Senior Campus Gymnasium. Blackmon said that the match, which went down to the wire, took everything from the players.

"This is very exciting. We've been trying to get here since freshman year," Blackmon said. "It's actually been very motivating because we've been wanting this. It's amazing how intense the playoffs are."

Van Vleck built a 2-0 lead after winning the first two games with relative ease. The Lady Leps even scored the first seven points in Game 3, and seemed to be on their way to a sweep.

But the Lady Owls came alive after a timeout, and outscored the Lady Leps 25-8 for the remainder of the set.

The Lady Owls came out hot in Game 4 as well, establishing a 16-8 lead and completely swinging the momentum. Van Vleck coach Mollie Huber called a timeout and said she challenged the seven seniors in a unique way.

"I told them they need to shake it off and have fun," Huber said. "I told the seniors if this is going to be your last game, it should be the best and most fun you've ever had. I think that really resonated with them and made the difference."

Blackmon and the other seniors answered the challenge, closing the gap and eventually taking the lead 21-20 in Game 4. They couldn't finish off the Lady Owls, but Blackmon said the energy was back.

"Being that close, it showed that we had a lot of heart and we really wanted it," Blackmon said. "It showed that we can fight and get even farther. We've come a long way."

The Lady Leps outscored the Lady Owls 12-4 to close out the final set and advance to area.

Chelsea Barrie, another senior, said fighting back in the last two games gave the team some valuable experience that could help them later on.

"In the last two games we had a bit of a let down," Barrie said. "We stressed out a little bit, but we pulled it through. We have some great players and everyone showed what they've got. These are the kind of performances we need for later in the playoffs."

The Lady Leps will play Freer in the area round of the playoffs. The match will be at 7:30 on Saturday at Ingleside.


Sign Up
CLOSE

  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •