Five not such a bad number this time around for Lady Hawks
When it comes to symbolism, the number five is supposed to represent harmony and peace.
So far this season for the Hiland Lady Hawks volleyball team, it has meant nothing but trouble, the team having dropped every one of its five-game matches.
Simply put, there have been too many close calls this season for the Hiland Lady Hawks volleyball team when it comes to five game matches, and they have always been on the losing side.
So much for harmony and peace.
But on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Hiland’s Perry Reese Community Center, the Lady Hawks exacted a little bit of revenge, exorcising their wrath for the number five.
Hiland got a huge game from junior setter Dana Rausch, went toe to toe with the Malvern Hornets, who had beaten them earlier this season — not surprisingly in five games — and emerged a five-game winner this time around, taking a 15-11 win in game five to secure their fourth victory of the season and fourth in their last 10 matches, after starting the campaign with 10 straight losses.
“It was nice to finally get one,” said Hiland coach Becky Williams of that fifth game. “I think the kids had finally had enough of losing them and really focused, especially when we had our backs against the wall.”
That was not just once, but twice.
Hiland took game one in a thriller, eventually grinding out a 25-22 win in a contest that could have easily gone either way. Malvern then gained its composure, and took game two 25-20 and game three 25-14, and appeared to have gathered up all the momentum it would need to pull away.
However, this isn’t the same Hiland team that wilted at every opportunity as a super-young group of sophomores last season, and the Hornets would not simply buzz their way through game four.
The two teams turned in an epic performance, and went at it in a brutally frantic pace. Hiland got the key plays it needed late in the game to earn a 25-23 win, forcing the decisive game five, which had not been kind to the Lady Hawks to date. What made it all the more sweet was that Hiland had battled back from being down six points in the game.
“Lately we have kind of established this thing where we get behind early then play pretty well,” said Williams. “I guess that makes winning the game all the more fun and exciting, and it did help us to have that momentum heading into the final game.”
However much momentum they had dissipated in a hurry, when the Hornets jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Get behind early, fight your way back. That is exactly what the Lady Hawks did, and this time, after coming back and taking the lead, they would not let it slip away, celebrating their win in what may have been the most dramatic game of the year for Hiland.
“It was thrilling to see the girls respond the way they did,” said Williams.
While it was a team effort, junior Dana Rausch played what may well have been her best game at the varsity level, dishing out 14 assists. But even more impressive, especially for a setter, is that Rausch pounded down 14 kills to lead the Lady Hawks, and served up three service aces just for good measure.
In addition to Rausch’s heroic effort, freshman Kelsey Mast also came up big, hammering home 10 kills, recording 13 assists and three aces. Sierra Miller had seven kills, while Natasha Yoder and Alexis Guggisberg added 11 and seven digs, respectively.
Williams said that before the game she implemented a six-two format that had both Rausch and Mast hitting and setting together. The scheme paid off, and Williams said since it worked so well, they will stick with it.
“Both Dana and Kelsey are smart players who know where they need to get the ball in order for us to be successful, and both can hit well, so we are able to move it around a little more,” said Williams. “It worked out fantastic.”
So far this season for the Hiland Lady Hawks volleyball team, it has meant nothing but trouble, the team having dropped every one of its five-game matches.
Simply put, there have been too many close calls this season for the Hiland Lady Hawks volleyball team when it comes to five game matches, and they have always been on the losing side.
So much for harmony and peace.
But on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Hiland’s Perry Reese Community Center, the Lady Hawks exacted a little bit of revenge, exorcising their wrath for the number five.
Hiland got a huge game from junior setter Dana Rausch, went toe to toe with the Malvern Hornets, who had beaten them earlier this season — not surprisingly in five games — and emerged a five-game winner this time around, taking a 15-11 win in game five to secure their fourth victory of the season and fourth in their last 10 matches, after starting the campaign with 10 straight losses.
“It was nice to finally get one,” said Hiland coach Becky Williams of that fifth game. “I think the kids had finally had enough of losing them and really focused, especially when we had our backs against the wall.”
That was not just once, but twice.
Hiland took game one in a thriller, eventually grinding out a 25-22 win in a contest that could have easily gone either way. Malvern then gained its composure, and took game two 25-20 and game three 25-14, and appeared to have gathered up all the momentum it would need to pull away.
However, this isn’t the same Hiland team that wilted at every opportunity as a super-young group of sophomores last season, and the Hornets would not simply buzz their way through game four.
The two teams turned in an epic performance, and went at it in a brutally frantic pace. Hiland got the key plays it needed late in the game to earn a 25-23 win, forcing the decisive game five, which had not been kind to the Lady Hawks to date. What made it all the more sweet was that Hiland had battled back from being down six points in the game.
“Lately we have kind of established this thing where we get behind early then play pretty well,” said Williams. “I guess that makes winning the game all the more fun and exciting, and it did help us to have that momentum heading into the final game.”
However much momentum they had dissipated in a hurry, when the Hornets jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Get behind early, fight your way back. That is exactly what the Lady Hawks did, and this time, after coming back and taking the lead, they would not let it slip away, celebrating their win in what may have been the most dramatic game of the year for Hiland.
“It was thrilling to see the girls respond the way they did,” said Williams.
While it was a team effort, junior Dana Rausch played what may well have been her best game at the varsity level, dishing out 14 assists. But even more impressive, especially for a setter, is that Rausch pounded down 14 kills to lead the Lady Hawks, and served up three service aces just for good measure.
In addition to Rausch’s heroic effort, freshman Kelsey Mast also came up big, hammering home 10 kills, recording 13 assists and three aces. Sierra Miller had seven kills, while Natasha Yoder and Alexis Guggisberg added 11 and seven digs, respectively.
Williams said that before the game she implemented a six-two format that had both Rausch and Mast hitting and setting together. The scheme paid off, and Williams said since it worked so well, they will stick with it.
“Both Dana and Kelsey are smart players who know where they need to get the ball in order for us to be successful, and both can hit well, so we are able to move it around a little more,” said Williams. “It worked out fantastic.”
Published: October 4, 2011
