Archive: Sports

On 9/30, Lansing faced the Trumansburg Blue Raiders for the second time this season. Despite a home-court advantage, the match's start was inauspicious. Bobcat attack errors and several Tburg aces created a 7-point deficit, 0-7. Two kills by Tara Miller and an ace by Kelsey Thomas started to close the gap, 5-8, but Lansing couldn't handle Tburg's heat. The gap stretched to 10 points, 11-21, despite 2 kills by Thomas and several digs by Nicole Washburn. Lansing trailed by 8 at the finish, 17-25.

Hannah Armstrong scored 2 early kills in the second set, and Caroline Prybyl added another, giving Lansing a 5-1 lead. Although Thomas and Washburn digs created attack opportunities, Lansing couldn't deliver. Tburg found holes in Lansing's defense and tied the score, 6-6. Amber Howser then delivered an ace, Thomas and Armstrong 1 kill each, and Armstrong teamed up with Miller for a block, 12-13. In the hotly contested set, the score was tied 8 more times before a Prybyl ace and a smart push by Armstrong clinched Lansing's first win against Tburg, 25-23.

In the 3rd set, it was Amber Howser who turned in 2 early kills, 5-3. From there, Lansing's only earned points were aces by Thomas, Howser, and Prybyl, 13-9, a "cobra strike" tip by Miller that quickly found empty court, and a kill by Armstrong assisted by Breanna Brann. Lansing errors and Tburg offense gave Tburg the set, 21-25.

Lansing trailed at the start of the must-win 4th set, 0-3, until the Brann-Armstrong combo delivered the first kill, Amber Howser a block, and Miller a kill assisted by Washburn, 5-5. Tburg capitalized on lax Lansing positioning, but Lansing came back with more aces by Howser and Prybyl, Washburn digs, 2 Thomas kills, and 1 kill each by Armstrong and Miller, 17-14. Lansing was rolling, and Tburg was scrambling. Then a fatal rotation error shifted momentum to the other side of the court. Sloppy paws contributed to Bobcat errors, which outweighed kills by Armstrong, Miller, and Howser, and the match ended with a disappointing 20-25 loss. Though the Bobcats could not muster a win, it was Lansing that showed marked progress since the two teams met in their season-opening match, reducing the overall point differential from 23 to 15. Continued progress will give Lansing a good shot at post-season play.

Thomas had the best game overall, with 10 service points, 2 aces, 5 kills (63%), 9 digs, and few errors. Prybyl's zen-like service preparation produced 5 aces; she also had 7 digs, 1 kill; Brann 11 assists, 1 ace, 4 digs; Armstrong 8 kills (40%), 2 aces, 4 assists, 1 block; Miller 6 kills, 1 block, 1 ace, 2 digs; Washburn 5 digs, 1 assist; Howser 4 kills, 3 aces, 3 digs, 1 block.
On 10/5, Lansing brought its season record to 9-3 by repeating its 3-0 win over Moravia, 25-10, 25-11, 25-21. The home match was marred by spotty Lansing performance, particularly in the 3rd set. On the up side, Brann was hot at the service line, drilling in 6 aces, and she continued to anchor Lansing's attack with 7 assists. Miller led on D with 12 digs and a block, and she and Howser each contributed 5 kills. Thomas' dependable serving scored 18 points, including 4 aces.

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