Archive: Sports

On Tuesday 9/28, Lansing rebounded from a disappointing weekend tournament in Watkins Glen and continued a stretch of IAC victories, sweeping a winless Union Springs team 3-0. Kelsey Thomas was Lansing's first server and landed two aces before a teammate collision cost Lansing its first point, 4-1. Nicole Washburn then translated the next 2 Union Springs serves and 1 attack into smooth passes, and Lansing regained service through a block by Sally Stoyell and Tara Miller, 5-2. Caroline Prybyl followed by blocking a service return and, a few minutes later, entertained the stands with 3 consecutive block-attacks that culminated in a kill. Though Lansing's hitters were error prone in the first set, strong serves by Hannah Armstrong and Stoyell helped maintain a lead, Amber Howser and Armstrong dispensed cross-court kills, and Amber Ryan closed out the set with an ace, 25-13.

Breanna Brann started the second set with 2 aces, but her run was cut short by a teammate's long spike. Vanesa Corey then sent a serve reception to Brann, who set Thomas for a kill. Thomas followed with 2 aces, and Blair Wigsten and Ryan each added 3 more. Miller defended with multiple digs and pounded 2 kills from the back row, assisted by Armstrong. Lansing yielded only 7 points, 25-7.

Lansing leapt ahead in the 3rd set when Thomas held court for 12 consecutive service points, including 3 points and a dig by Miller, as well as kills by Howser and Brann. A Union Springs free ball then caught Lansing's back row flat footed, 12-1. Karina Warkentin's serve return scored, regaining service for Lansing. Although a few Lansing errors allowed the Union Springs score to climb, the Bobcats held their opponents to single digits. Another Warkentin serve return enabled Armstrong to score on a tip, 20-4. Megan Drake and Shanna Shaff kept the ball in play, Union Springs spiked wide, then short, and Shaff served a final ace, 25-9.

It was a good week for Lansing's sophomores. Thomas delivered 9 aces against Union Springs, and her 3 kills constituted a 75% attack percentage, her personal best for the season. At the Watkins tournament, Armstrong was voted by the opposing team players as Lansing's MVP, and at Union Springs, she had 5 assists, 3 aces, and 3 kills (38%). Brann had 4 assists, 2 digs, 2 aces, and 1 kill; Miller 6 digs, 4 kills, 1 block; Howser 4 kills, 2 assists; Prybyl 4 kills, 1 block; Stoyell, 1 block, 1 ace, 1 dig; Ryan, 4 aces; Washburn, 1 dig; Wigsten, 1 dig; Corey, 1 dig.

----
v6i38