10/11/16
Tumwater 3, Black Hills 0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-21)
(Tumwater, WA) The Black Hills Wolves knew they had their work cut out for them facing the undefeated Tumwater T-Birds. Tumwater had an impressive run in non-league before cruising through to the Evco league’s midway point defeating Curtis, Emerald Ridge, Bellarmine Prep and Olympia. All 4A schools and on top of that Curtis beat Emerald Ridge for the 4A State Title last season and BP took 6th.
As the 1st set got underway the Wolves scored first and kept pace until Cristina Hegarty reeled off 3 points to make it 10-7. Brooke Hare added 2 to lead 13-8. the 2 teams exchanged possessions point for point keeping the Wolves within striking distance of 5 points until Hegarty scored another point pushing it to 18-12 and then Hare again fired off 3 straight points pushing the score to 23-15. Mia Basso would finish it off for the 25-15 win.
The T-Birds had strong net play in the 1st set from Kennedy Croft who followed through with several kill shots. Maddy Pilon was setting with good efforts from Ali Smith and Shae Watson. The Wolves returned several of those monster kill shots with Emily Larson digging out along with Emma Goodman and Nicole Waldron.
In the 2nd set it was Waldron setting the pace giving the Wolves a 3-0 start including an ace. The T-Birds battled back and once again it was tied 6-6 the same place Tumwater started to pull away in the 1st set but this time it was Croft who served 4 straight point winners also with an ace. Tumwater had again established a 5-point lead at 16-11 when Hegarty put the match away with 7 straight points with an ace. Maddie Pilon had an impressive block during this run and the T-Birds were up 24-13. Moloney scored 3 points with back-to-back aces before Tumwater closed it out on a Croft kill shot for the 25-16 win.
In the 3rd set, a must win for the Wolves, Black Hills again took the lead but this time the comeback tie would be 8-8. The Wolves were not ready to let the T-Birds roll on by and Emma Goodman got on a roll scoring 5 straight giving the Wolves a 14-11 lead and threatening to do something no Evco 2A team has done this season and that’s win a set over the T-Birds. Hannah Rongen dug and blocked some key shots in this run and was solid throughout the match.
Tumwater would rally back denying the Wolves led by Basso 5 point run and then great defensive play with Savannah Sleasman killing several shots, Ali Smith had a big block and Brooke Hare finished it off. Tumwater is now 5-0 in league play and 9-0 overall while the Wolves drop to 4-1 and 5-4.
Our Tommy Lowe of the Greene Realty Group Players of the Game went to Tumwater’s Kennedy Croft and the Wolves Hannah Rongen. Our ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game went to Savannah Sleasman for her huge kill in the 3rd set.
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