Lady Wolves Celebrate Community

LINCOLN — Down two games to one and facing a 23-17 deficit in game four, Lincoln fought back to win a conference volleyball match over Gentry on Sept. 10.

Gentry took game one handily, 25-14, getting an ace and kill from Samantha Bailey and a pair of aces from Sierra Smith to jump ahead, 13-4. Although the game was nearly even the rest of the way, Lincoln could not catch up

“After that first game we had a lot of things wrong. I took the girls in the locker room and we had a talk about being motivated and what it takes to win,” said Adrian Risley, Lincoln coach. “What we have got to learn this year is how to finish a game. That’s a skill in itself. We’ve finally got to the point we’re learning that.”

Haley Borgeteien-James pulled Gentry to within, 23-21, with an ace in game two but Lincoln reached game-point with a block. Gentry regained serve and Smith’s ace drew the Pioneers even closer, at 24-23, but then gave the game away with a bad serve, losing 25-23.

Gentry dominated game three using an 11-6 spurt to fashion a 16-11 advantage on Smith’s block and closed out the game on a 6-0 run.

“They did a really good job of hustling to the ball and executing our game plan,” said Gentry coach Darren Ward.

The Pioneers had a chance to end the match in four games building a 23-18 lead on Bailey’s kill but stumbled with a hitting error. Danielle Cossey served an ace for Lincoln, then the combination of Carissa Rothrock (dig), Alex Hutchens (set) and Jaycie Neeley ( kill) worked. A second Neeley kill was followed by a four hit Gentry violation allowing the game to be tied, at 23-all. Gabbi Barnum got the next dig with Hutchens setting for another Neeley kill. Lincoln completed a 6-0 finish to win 25-23 on Cossey’s ace.

“You have to give credit to Lincoln. We had them on the ropes in game four but they did not quit,” Ward said. “They came back and found a way to win, sometimes that’s all it takes.”

Lincoln rode the momentum in game five pulling away from a 5-5 score to forge a 13- 8 lead before Gentry rallied to get within, 13-11. After a timeout, Hutchens set up middle hitter Tara Myers for a kill to bring the Lady Wolves to game-point.

Gentry scored the next two points but Cossey’s kill secured the 15-13 game win and the match for Lincoln.

“Gentry played hard,” Risley said. “It’s hard to travel and stay energized at somebody else’s gym at eight o’clock at night but they did it. Those were good games.”

Lincoln lost to Farmington, 25-16, 25-22 and 27-25 on Sept. 5. Risley said the Lady Wolves started out nervously and were down most of game one.

“Both teams played really well in game two but we ended up not finishing,” Risley said. “We came back in the third game and really showed ourselves. It’s the best I’ve seen this group play since I’ve been here. We started learning how to finish.”

Myers is enjoying the season, explaining the players’ dedication to each other is making a difference.

“This group of girls, they mean everything to me. They’re my family. I’ve never had a team with such community as these girls. Volleyball is a team sport. You can’t do anything unless you play as a team.”