Lady Trojans sweep Granite in match, season series
PHILIPSBURG – The Drummond Girl’s Volleyball Team put a lock on their 2022 District 13C schedule Tuesday night, sweeping Granite 3-0 and earning the top seed heading into the tournament later this month.
The Lady Trojans (10-0) played even with the Lady Prospectors (4-3) midway into the first set, tied at 14-14. That’s Drummond senior Paytn Rasor stepped to the service line and ripped off five straight service points in her second time through the rotation. Granite called a timeout, but the damage had been done and the Lady Trojans claimed a 25-17 victory.
The Lady Prospectors had trouble getting going in the second set as well, unable to field more of Rasor’s serves cleanly and trailing 14-8. But the host team rallied to knot the game at 19-19, before an official’s decision reversed the score to 20-18. The two-point swing allowed Drummond to get away with a 25-20 set two victory.
As the third set opened Granite seemed ready for the challenge. Leading 11-5 they were firing on all cylinders and appeared to be ready to force a fourth set. That’s when the defending district champs found their game, putting together six straight points to tie the set at 11-11. The set remained close until late when the Lady Trojans again pulled away for the win.
While happy with the victory, DHS Head Coach Paige Fickler knows her team could have done better.
“We’re just not calling the ball and communicating,” reflected Fickler. “Sometimes I think we sit back when we need to be the aggressor. And to be the aggressor you have to get every pass up in the air so you can get a set and get a hit off of it.”
Likewise, Granite Head Coach Kaley Hansen felt her team hurt itself when they had opportunities to forge ahead.
“Consistency. That’s what I told them in the locker room. To be honest, I’m not sure how to fix it at this point. But consistency in our energy and our passes, hits and serves. We just shot ourselves in the foot multiple times. We get some energy and a lead and then someone makes a mistake and that spreads.”
Rasor had just two aces on the night, but her consistency and smart placement of serves earned her the Kiko’s Mexican Restaurant Player of the Game for Drummond. Ella Tallon’s overall play earned her the same honor for Granite, the second time she’s won this season.
The Lady Prospectors get a week off before Darby comes to visit them in Philipsburg October 13. The start time for the junior varsity contest has been moved up to 5 p.m.
The Lady Trojans will take Friday off before hosting Powell County in a non-district matchup Saturday starting at 5:30 p.m. with the junior varsity.
SCORING
DRUMMOND – 25/25/25 – 3
Granite – 17/20/21 – 0
STATISTICS
Kills – (D) Perry 3, Hauptman 5, Struna 1, Nelson 2, Wagner 6, Parsons 1, (G) Lee 4, Hill 2, Tallon 2, Piar 4, McDonald 2, Reisenauer 1
Blocks – (D) Perry 1, Hauptman 1, Nelson 1, Parsons 1, (G) Lee 5.5, Hill 1, Piar .5
Assists – (D) Struna 14, Parsons 1, (G) Lee 3, Tallon 5, Piar 1
Digs – (D) Rasor 4, Perry 3, Hauptman 8, Struna 3, Wagner 2, Parke 8, Hicks 4, Parsons 1, Langton 1, (G) Tallon 4, Flores 7, Piar 2, McDonald 1, Reisenauer 2
Aces – (D) Rasor 2, Perry 1, Hauptman 5, Struna 3, Wagner 2, (G) Lee 1, Tallon 3, Piar 1
Junior Varsity
Drummond def. Granite
25-19, 25-18, 11-15, 15-11
The Lady Trojan JV repeated the feat of their varsity counterparts, sweeping the Lady Prospector JV in four sets.
Remington Cline had a match-best six kills to lead Drummond, getting most of those from teammate Kimber Parsons who had nine assists. Charlee Cline led in blocks (1) and aces (4).
Addi Lilyquist was the top attacked for Granite with four kills, also adding six aces. Addison Spehar was tops in assists with five.
