FARMINGTON — The Cardinal nest had no room for Gentry. Farmington defeated the Pioneers with a three-game sweep in a girls’ volleyball match Aug. 30. The Cardinals posted winning scores of 25-10, 25-8 and 25-21.
“That’s not the same team who played yesterday,” said Gentry Coach Daren Ward, frustrated over what he termed a search for consistency. “We’re trying to find our identity.”
The athletic play of the Cardinals had a lot to do with the setback. Rene Scheyder started the sweep with a block, then Lauren Blackburn set up outside hitter Lexie Lewis for a kill.Sandwiched around a pair of Scheyder kills was the trio of Lewis (dig), Lauren Blackburn (set) and Tiffany Rhame finishing with the kill. The Cardinals led 6-1 and never looked back.
Gentry wasted an outstanding play by 5-foot-6junior Josie Graves diving forward on her knees to make a solid play on the ball, but no one else reacted and the score went to 15-8 in favor of Farmington.
After Gentry pulled within 19-10, a bombardment of aces by Lewis finished the game with Farmington winning 25-10.
Farmington got out to a 10-1 lead in game two. After a Pioneer serve went long, Ward called time-out with his team down 14-3, only to watch Lindsey Blackburn serve back-to-back aces for the Cardinals.
Another mental error cost the Pioneers. Facing game-point with Farmington serving, Gentry hit the ball into the rafters but didn’t play it when it came down. Farmington took game two, 25-8.
Gentry led early in game three. Brittany Coffee’s cross court kill on the front line put the Pioneers up, 2-1. The teams traded a series of bad serves. Then Farmington’s Lindsey Blackburn robbed her opposite number, Gentry’s Jordan Olds also wearing jersey number eight, of a kill by getting under a spike. The Cardinals extended their lead to 10-4.
Gentry hitting errors put them at a 19-7 deficit. Farmington Coach Jessica McCollough then inserted reserves.
“I’m trying to get them playing experience against good competition,” said McCollough.
Gentry rallied, getting a kill from Graves and a pair aces from Coffee. Aided by Cardinal hitting errors, the Pioneers drew closer, getting within 24-21 on a violation.Gentry then hit the ball outof-bounds giving Farmington a three-game sweep.
“I’m proud of our starters,” said McCollough. “They are doing a good job of communicating.”
"Was it nerves, or lack of focus, or lack of preparation?" Gentry’s coach, Daren Ward, wasn't sure how to attribute the Pioneers' inconsistent play. He described the varsity as "a work in progress," saying the girlsare more athletic than teams in the past.
Junior Varsity
The Farmington Lady Cardinals jumped all over the visiting Gentry Pioneers in girls’ volleyball junior varsity action Aug. 30.
Farmington won game one of the JV contest, 25-4, getting seven aces from Brittany McManus to jump out to a 15-2 advantage. Aliyah Johnson added three more serves that the Pioneers weren’t able to return and Farmington wrapped it up on another ace by Shelby Barron.
Gentry put up more of a fight in game two, evening the score at 4-4. The Pioneers kept it close at 7-5 before falling to another volley of Cardinal serves. This time it was Ali Bynum dishing up eight aces to put Farmington well out in front, at 18-5. Gentry garnered two straight points on consecutive kills from Aspen Cripps to close the gap to 19-11, but three straight hitting errors in the back row by the Pioneers ended the game with Farmington winning 25-11.
Sports, Pages 8 on 09/07/2011