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Lady Longhorn volleyball teams gets introduced to playoff atmosphere
By WAYNE RHYMES
The Lady Longhorns finished the regular season on top in district and now are competing in practice games before the playoffs begin.
Last Monday the Lady Longhorns played in Coldspring against 1-A Lady Bulldogs of Iola. The Lady Bulldogs finished their season on top in their district with a 34-2 overall record and 8-0 in district.
Competing against a 1-A school, the Lady Longhorns figured it would be a walk in the park, but quickly found themselves in one of their toughest games of the season as the Lady Bulldogs were determined to win.
As the game began, the Lady Longhorns struggled and displayed frustration as the Lady Bulldogs dominated with powerful hitting and great teamwork. This frustration settled in on the Lady Longhorns as the crowd for the Lady Bulldogs roared on every point.
The Lady Longhorns found themselves down two games as the scores were 25-21 and 25-19. Coach Denise Johnson did all she could do for her team as she continued to use time-outs and yelling repeatedly to get her players going.
At the start of the third game, the Lady Longhorns commanded the game by keeping the lead throughout. As the score became 16 to 15 Lady Longhorns, the Lady Bulldogs went on a surge and took command trying to end it. As the game went on the volleys of the two teams would not die as neither team wanted to surrender.
The crowds for both sides played a significant role as the score became tied 22-22. The Lady Bulldogs showed no signs of being distracted as they are a confident team, but the Lady Longhorns were being pumped up from their crowd as their were chants saying, “Come on! Don’t give up.”
This inspired the Lady Longhorns as Samantha Martin set up Kourtney Chorman for a kill. It was blocked and became a point for the Lady Bulldogs making it 23-22. The very next play Martin came back and got a point by faking a set and tipping it over to the Lady Bulldogs tying the game 23-23.
Lady Longhorn Taylor Stovall, who was unstoppable all night, got set up by Martin as she added another kill to her game high total of 18, giving the Lady Longhorns a 24-23 lead. The Lady Bulldogs still had fight in them as they got a kill and scored, making it tied again.
Then the Lady Bulldogs scored again from a kill, putting them ahead 25-24. The Lady Longhorns continued to fight as Stovall came back with a kill and followed it with great individual effort by racking up on blocks against the Lady Bulldogs putting them up 26-25.
Morgan O’Brien finished the game with a kill and that was the spark the Lady Longhorns needed as they won game three and went on to beat the Lady Bulldogs in five games. The scores for the last three games were 27-25, 25-21 and 15-11, all won by the Lady Longhorns.
“I never had a team like this that fights and never gives up. This team’s heart is big,” Coach Johnson said.
Lady Longhorn O’Brien struggled early but continued to play and began doing other things that helped seal this victory, along with Stovall who had the Lady Bulldogs back away from the net as she went up every time.
Jordan Galloway and Torri Rhodes contributed huge in the back row as they ended the game in digs with 28 and 23, respectively. Martin always plays steady and came up with points that were needed and at the right time for the Lady Longhorns as she still came up with 46 assists.
“Samantha came up with huge smart plays that we needed tonight, but Taylor stepped up big time. She was great! This game really helped us tonight, it was loud and it was a fight,” Coach Johnson said.
The Lady Longhorns will continue to play in practice games until playoffs begin and the Cleveland Advocate will be your source for all coverage and information with the Lady Longhorns.
Last Monday the Lady Longhorns played in Coldspring against 1-A Lady Bulldogs of Iola. The Lady Bulldogs finished their season on top in their district with a 34-2 overall record and 8-0 in district.
Competing against a 1-A school, the Lady Longhorns figured it would be a walk in the park, but quickly found themselves in one of their toughest games of the season as the Lady Bulldogs were determined to win.
As the game began, the Lady Longhorns struggled and displayed frustration as the Lady Bulldogs dominated with powerful hitting and great teamwork. This frustration settled in on the Lady Longhorns as the crowd for the Lady Bulldogs roared on every point.
The Lady Longhorns found themselves down two games as the scores were 25-21 and 25-19. Coach Denise Johnson did all she could do for her team as she continued to use time-outs and yelling repeatedly to get her players going.
At the start of the third game, the Lady Longhorns commanded the game by keeping the lead throughout. As the score became 16 to 15 Lady Longhorns, the Lady Bulldogs went on a surge and took command trying to end it. As the game went on the volleys of the two teams would not die as neither team wanted to surrender.
The crowds for both sides played a significant role as the score became tied 22-22. The Lady Bulldogs showed no signs of being distracted as they are a confident team, but the Lady Longhorns were being pumped up from their crowd as their were chants saying, “Come on! Don’t give up.”
This inspired the Lady Longhorns as Samantha Martin set up Kourtney Chorman for a kill. It was blocked and became a point for the Lady Bulldogs making it 23-22. The very next play Martin came back and got a point by faking a set and tipping it over to the Lady Bulldogs tying the game 23-23.
Lady Longhorn Taylor Stovall, who was unstoppable all night, got set up by Martin as she added another kill to her game high total of 18, giving the Lady Longhorns a 24-23 lead. The Lady Bulldogs still had fight in them as they got a kill and scored, making it tied again.
Then the Lady Bulldogs scored again from a kill, putting them ahead 25-24. The Lady Longhorns continued to fight as Stovall came back with a kill and followed it with great individual effort by racking up on blocks against the Lady Bulldogs putting them up 26-25.
Morgan O’Brien finished the game with a kill and that was the spark the Lady Longhorns needed as they won game three and went on to beat the Lady Bulldogs in five games. The scores for the last three games were 27-25, 25-21 and 15-11, all won by the Lady Longhorns.
“I never had a team like this that fights and never gives up. This team’s heart is big,” Coach Johnson said.
Lady Longhorn O’Brien struggled early but continued to play and began doing other things that helped seal this victory, along with Stovall who had the Lady Bulldogs back away from the net as she went up every time.
Jordan Galloway and Torri Rhodes contributed huge in the back row as they ended the game in digs with 28 and 23, respectively. Martin always plays steady and came up with points that were needed and at the right time for the Lady Longhorns as she still came up with 46 assists.
“Samantha came up with huge smart plays that we needed tonight, but Taylor stepped up big time. She was great! This game really helped us tonight, it was loud and it was a fight,” Coach Johnson said.
The Lady Longhorns will continue to play in practice games until playoffs begin and the Cleveland Advocate will be your source for all coverage and information with the Lady Longhorns.
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