By Angie Brushwood (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Ash Grove Lady Pirates improved to 4-1 with a win over the Lockwood Lady Tigers in two sets (25-15, 25-12).
Outscoring the Lady Tigers 12-2 late in the first set (25-15), the Lady Pirates were ready to grab the momentum in the second set.
“We came together and realized we need to get going again,” said Ash Grove coach Diana Dreier, “We started taking off. It’s always a learning experience, and that’s what we’re here to do, is learn and just improve.”
Tori Tummons slipped a kill sideways past the Lady Tigers’ defenders, giving the Lady Pirates a 5-3 lead. The Lady Pirates held the lead the remainder of the second set.
Leading 13-8, the Lady Pirates turned up the heat, gaining a 10-point lead after a kill by Catie Martin, 19-9. Chloe Hardy found a hole in the Lady Tigers’ defense, followed by another point by Martin, 21-9.
Coose scored two more for the Lady Tigers, and they picked up a point on a Lady Pirates’ error, but the Lady Pirates wrapped up the set 25-12.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Lady Tigers’ six-foot hitter Moriah Coose finished with eight kills and two blocks, but the Lady Pirates’ defense stopped her best efforts at the net. Kenzie Connell made 3 block kills for the Lady Pirates.
“She’s a fun one to play against,” said Dreier about Coose. “She always comes up big, ready to move and read what’s going on the other side. It was our challenge to see what we could do against her and see how we would react and how she would react. We still wanted to get the big hits in and move them around a bit, but definitely defense was our main focus for this game.”
Tummons (sr.) had eight assists for the Lady Pirates.
“I’m really proud of my team,” said Tummons. “Our blocks got up tonight, and that was the best part of it. We got out and played hard.”
Kindell Coambes contributed 7 kills for the Lady Pirates. Coambes helped the Lady Pirates pull ahead for the win in the first set with a kill followed by two aces, 22-14.
Ash Grove will host the Ash Grove tournament on Saturday. Lockwood (6-3-2) faces Golden City on Tuesday.
1 2
Ash Grove 25 25
Lockwood 15 12
Ash Grove:
Kindell Coambes – 7 kills
Kenzie Connell – 3 block kills
Chloe Hardy – 7 kills
Catie Martin – 6 kills
Tori Tummons – 8 assists
Lockwood: Moriah Coose – 8 kills, 2 blocks
Rylee Neill – 12 assists
Makenzie Purinton – 10 digs
