The Hillcrest Lady Hornets defeated the Camdenton Lady Lakers in three sets, 2-1, on Thursday. The Lady Lakers made them work for it, tying the third set 24-all before the Lady Hornets pushed back for the win, 26-24.
The Lady Lakers walked away with the first set, 25-19. The Lady Hornets led by as much as 11 points late in the second set, defeating the Lady Lakers 25-16.
The Lady Hornets’ coach Robin Collins instructed her team to be aggressive for the win.
“We talked about how every point had to be game point,” said Collins. “You can’t take anyone too lightly. Every time we had the opportunity to actually swing, we needed to do it. Don’t play timid, get on the attack.”
The Lady Lakers led through most of the third set. Trailing 19-14 after Blair Kurtz’s ace for Camdenton, the Lady Hornets began pushing back.
A kill by Lakin Barrett topped off three consecutive points for the Lady Hornets, but Jordan Wolfe answered with a kill for the Lady Lakers, 20-17. Two defensive points for the Lady Hornets and another kill by Barrett finally tied the score 20-all.
Daphne Dinsdale scored for the Lady Lakers, answered by Rachel Pfeifer with a kill for the Lady Hornets, 21-all.
The Lady Hornets scored three more points for a 24-22 lead, then opened the door for the Lady Lakers with two errors and a tied score, 24-all. Sierra Baker’s kill for the Lady Hornets, followed by an out-of-bounds return by the Lady Lakers, put the win on the board for Hillcrest, 26-24.
“We knew that Camdenton would be quite a force,” said Collins. “We’ve had a lot of trouble with them in the past; they are scrappy. To get in a hole and fight back is quite an accomplishment for these guys. Some of that is learning as the game goes on. We really adjusted in every timeout where we needed to hit the ball, who we needed to hit it to. I’ve talked to them all season long, it’s always the team that can execute, and tonight it was us.”
Camdenton coach Austin Walker said her team's defense wasn't up to par.
“We weren’t blocking,” said Walker. “They hit right through the middle of our block. They found the hole and kept chipping away. They were scrappier than us, played till every whistle, and they outhustled us tonight.”
Rachel Pfeifer (sr.) had 7 kills for the Lady Hornets. Pfeifer explained how the Lady Hornets found an opening in the Lady Lakers’ defense.
“On one of their plays, some of us noticed their setters like to pull up,” said Pfeifer. “Our middles were able to hit tip, and our outsides were able to shoot line, just to get them out of order and get in their heads. We’re working really hard off and on the court. We can feel the target on our back getting bigger, but we’re pushing through that and persevering.”
Hillcrest improved to 13-2-1.
Hillcrest 2, Camdenton 1
Hillcrest 19 25 26
Camdenton 25 16 24
