Lady Prospectors push Valley Christian to the limit, but fall is five sets

PHILIPSBURG – The Granite girls volleyball team played well in spurts, but fell in the end to the visiting Lady Eagles of Valley Christian, 5-0.

The Lady Prospectors (1-2, 1-1) opened the match with a dominating 25-0 victory, highlighted by great communication according to GHS Head Coach Kayley Hansen. “It was just talkin’. I changed the lineup last night after practice because I didn’t like the way our practice ended and so I sprung it on them today. But ultimately it’s the talking. We have to work on working together.”

The Granite chatter slowed in Game 2 as the Lady Eagles pulled out a 25-21 win to tie the match at a set apiece. But as the Lady Prospectors got back to a better communication pattern in game three, the points came and gave them a 25-20 win and a 2-1 match lead.

But that’s when things broke down too much for the Granite girls to overcome, as Valley won the next set and the tie breaker to earn the match.

Lucia Lee led with six kills and five blocks at the net. Ella Tallon had nine assists and nine aces to lead both of those stats.

Sophomore Ramsey Smith had a team-best 11 digs, but played a wide-ranging game that helped Granite stay in the match throughout the evening. They don’t keep stats for aces prevented, but Smith’s play prevented many such serves by the Eagles and kept the ball in play. She was tabbed as the Kiko’s Mexican Restaurant Player of the Game for her efforts.

Now the Lady Prospectors have just one day to get back on track before they head to Drummond to take on county rivals the Lady Trojans. Play begins at 5:30 with the varsity following at 7 p.m.

SCORING

Valley Christian – 10/25/20/25/15 – 3

Granite – 25/21/25/17/11 – 2

Granite Statistics

Kills – Lee 6, Hill 3, Spehar 1, Tallon 3, Smith 2, Pair 3, McDonald 2

Blocks – Lee 5, Piar 4.5, McDonald .5

Assists – Lee 6, Tallon 9

Digs – Lee 9, Spehar 1, Tallon 4, Smith 11, Pair 9

Aces – Lee 3, Hill 1, Spehar 2, Tallon 9, Smith 2, Piar 6, McDonald 3