The first game was not what coach Kasey Arceniega wanted for her Blue Devil team when they played Hamilton. The Lady Broncs played a tough first game against the Blue Devils and pushed them to the limit before Corvallis pulled away for the 25-23 win. The scare by the Lady Broncs served as a wake up call for Corvallis and then went on to win the next two games and the match in a pretty decisive manner.
“I think they came out a little too anxious the first game,” said Arceniega. “ And you know, we decided we needed to go back to basics, clean a few things up and that’s exactly what they did in the second and third games.”
The young Blue Devil team, there’s only two seniors on the team, did not attack the net during the first game. That gave Hamilton a couple of opportunities and they took the lead late in the match. Penny Gwynn was tough all over the floor along with Kennedy Chadwick for the Lady Broncs. Gwynn finished with seven kills.
“I feel like they did a good job at wearing Hamilton down,” according to Arceniega. “As young as they are, they are pretty mentally tough. They are experienced. A lot of my team, they play year around. And that keeps them mentally tough.”
Every year, Arceniega sets the goal of the team playing up to their potential. She said this year the bar has been raised but feels her team is up for the task. “They have the potential to get it done,” she concluded. Corvallis currently has a record of 4-1 in conference play and 6-1 overall.
Corvallis def. Hamilton, 25-23, 25-12, 25-9.
Kills – Hamilton 18 (Penny Gwynn 7), Corvallis 28 (Joanna Avery 9). Blocks – Hamilton 2 (Amber Powell 2), Corvallis 13 (Avery 5). Digs – Hamilton 43 (Kennedy Chadwick 26), Corvallis 49 (Laura Verner 11). Assists – Hamilton 17 (Val Tayler 15), Corvallis 25 (Verner 15). Aces – Hamilton 1 (Jaylee Albert), Corvallis 11 (Katie Patterson 4
The Southwest A conference got a little more interesting on Saturday when Stevensville knocked off the Anaconda Copperheads in four games. The Lady Yellowjackets won the first game and then rallied back to win games three and four to take the match. Kyla Paulsen had 14 kills while Mackinzie Zimmerman had four blocks and three aces. Stevensville improved to 3-3 in conference and 4-5 overall.
Stevensville def. Anaconda, 25-20, 11-25, 25-15, 26-24.
Kills – Anaconda 37 (Brook Champion 18), Stevensville 32 (Kyla Paulsen 14). Blocks – Anaconda 1 (Natasha Strommen), Stevensville 10 (Mackinzie Zimmerman 4). Digs – Anaconda 67 (Karli King 21), Stevensville 60 (Carly Vercruyssen 15). Assists – Anaconda 28 (Kaylea Jorgensen 27), Stevensville 27 (Tralyn Gardner 15). Aces – Anaconda 9 (Mia Estes 3), Stevensville 9 (Zimmerman 3).
After being pushed by Hamilton in a non conference game, Florence continued to run over their conference opponents as they defeated St. Ignatius in three games. Casey Mann and Melody Maki controlled the net, slamming down seven kills apiece. Maki had four blocks as did Hayley Cole. Florence improved to 4-0 in conference and 10-0 overall.
Florence def. St. Ignatius, 25-15, 25-11, 25-15.
Kills – St. Ignatius 17 (Sara Nerby 12), Florence 31 (Casey Mann 7, Melody Maki 7). Blocks – St. Ignatius 2 (Nerby 2), Florence 13 (Maki 4, Hayley Cole 4). Digs – St. Ignatius 37 (Loren Erickson 8), Florence 56 (Karli Cotton 31). Assists – St. Ignatius 17 (Erickson 17), Florence 29 (Makenzie Bauck 17 ). Aces – St. Ignatius 3 (Nerby, Lindsay Johnson, Emily Gillingham), Florence 9 (Mann 3, Megan Byrne 3, Cotton 3).
Darby took five games but they got the job done when they defeated Lincoln, 3-2. Brianna Massey had 14 kills and two blocks. Sydney Bergren had six aces for the Lady Tigers. Darby has a record of 3-6 in conference play and 4-6 overall.
Darby def. Lincoln, 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 15-4.
Kills – Lincoln 30 (Abby Erickson 9), Darby 36 (Brianna Massey 14). Blocks – Lincoln 7 (Shelby Maughan 3), Darby 3 (Massey 2). Digs – Lincoln 43 (Erickson 12), Darby 30 (Sydney Bergren 9). Assists – Lincoln 21 (Maughan 12), Darby 30 (Bergren 12). Aces – Lincoln 15 (Sarah Eisenzimer 6), Darby 16 (Bergren 6).
Valley Christian defeated Victor, 3-0. Desiree Charlton had five kills and a block for the Lady Pirates. She also had three aces.
Valley Christian def. Victor, 25-22, 25-12, 27-25.
Kills – Victor 11 (Desiree Charlton 5), Valley Christian 28 (Kaylee Velin 9). Blocks – Victor 2 (Charlton 1), Valley Christian 8 (Brielynna Lange 5). Digs – Victor 23 (Skye Mitcham 8), Valley Christian 87 (Kaleigh Moser 17). Assists – Victor 9 (Leanna Burdett 7), Valley Christian 26 (Taylor Kelly 18). Aces – Victor 10 (Charlton 3), Valley Christian 16 (Kelly 8).