By Scott Vanscoy (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Billings Lady Wildcats repeated as District champions, defeating the New Covenant Lady Warriors, 2-0 (25-22, 25-12) on Tuesday evening. Taking advantage of their experience, the Wildcats used teamwork and hustle to win the championship.
The first set saw Billings jump out to a quick 17-7 lead, only to see the Warriors serve eight straight to pull within three, 17-14. Billings took advantage of New Covenant miscues and quickly regained the lead, 22-16. New Covenant then cut Billings’ lead to one, making the score 23-22. Billings regained its composure and put away New Covenant on the next two points, winning the set 25-22.
“When we get ahead, we want to try to stay like that,” said Billings coach Brandi Sillavan. “Our intensity never let down; we realized that nothing was going to be handed to us and the more that we talk together as a team the easier it is going to be for us.”
In the second set, Billings once again took an early lead, 7-1, forcing New Covenant coach Lindsey Letsinger to call a time out to regroup her team. Age and emotion worked against the Warriors as the Billings lead bloomed to 15-9.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
“The second game, we started off really far behind and really slow,” said Letsinger. “We finally started a comeback in the first set, but then in the second set we just lost it. Some of it, I think, is that we have three freshmen and two sophomores on the floor, so we have a lot of girls who haven’t experienced the Districts. I think we’ll be strong in the next few years but it is just a matter of learning the ropes. We just couldn’t get it over the net in the second set. It happens, that’s volleyball. I’m still very proud of them.”
Billings coasted to the 25-10 win, led by sophomore Bailey Groves and junior Elizabeth Gearing.
“We knew that we were just going to have to push like we did last year,” said Gearing. “So we pushed and we fought and we did conquer. It is a great feeling to repeat. We fought for that same feeling that we had last year and it is just so exciting to get to have that again.”
Groves was one of Billings’ biggest hitters on the night and the sophomore played like a veteran.
“Tonight was nerve-wracking,” said Groves. “Everyone knew that we had to play with the most heart and intensity and just come out full-force. We all knew what was on the line and we all wanted it so badly.”
In her first year at Billings, coach Sillavan emphasized her team’s goal for the night.
“We were on a mission,” said Sillavan. “Our hustle and our ability to talk as a team and figure out our problems is what brought us to this point. When we realize that the other team is down, we try to take advantage and force the issue. That way, when we get in a rough spot, we have some cushion. Volleyball is a very momentum sport, up and down, and we definitely play like that. We only lose two seniors and hopefully we can stay with a good run for the next two years.”
Billings will face District 8 Champion Miller on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Miller.
