Archive: Sports

Lansing defended its 2009 championship in the Dryden invitational tournament on Saturday 10/16. The team rolled past its IAC opponents, Southern Cayuga and Moravia in 3-0 matches (25-21, 25-12, 26-24, and 25-18, 25-23, 25-17, respectively). Both matches ended with decisive Lansing kills, and a final block point by Carolyn Prybyl finished the 3rd set against Moravia on a feel-good note.

Lansing continued its momentum in its 3rd match against Corcoran High from Syracuse. Kills, aces, digs, and teamwork built an 11-point lead, 21-10, in the first set. Then Lansing appeared to lose is bearings, both as individuals and as a team. Corcoran gained 14 points to Lansing's measly one, 22-25. Lansing struggled in the 2nd set and again fell short, 17-25. In the 3rd set, the Bobcats' defense pulled through, and Lansing maintained a slight lead through most of the set. Nicole Washburn, Tara Miller, and Kelsey Thomas fended off Corcoran's attack, and 6 players each scored a kill, 4 assisted by Sally Stoyell, who added a block. Setter Breanna Brann surprised Corcoran with a backwards push over the net to score the final point, 25-23.

The 1-2 loss to Corcoran may have been fortuitous, as Lansing faced Dryden for the 3rd time this year in a 1-set semi-final match. The intense match started and ended with small point spreads, though Lansing fell behind by 5 midway. Lansing earned its points with 3 blocks, 9 kills, 3 aces, and quick action to pick up Dryden blocks by the net. Every player pulled through to best Lansing's local rivals 25-23. The win afforded the Bobcats an opportunity to test their skills in a 3-set final against a new opponent, Norwich, which had defeated Corcoran in the semis.

The last match was a nail-biter. Lansing took the first set 25-18 and then faltered. As Norwich's lead grew to double digits, Coach Powers subbed out her starters, banking on the value of a short recovery period. Her gambit paid off. Though Lansing dropped the second set, 11-25, the team was raring to go in the last 15-point set. Lansing started with blocks by Amber Howser, Miller, Armstrong, and a Miller kill, 4-2. Everyone pitched in digs, and Lansing held its slight lead through a kill by Shanna Shaff, 2 Prybyl aces, and 2 final kills by Miller. Lansing won the set 15-12, the match, and the tournament. Lansing's JV team also progressed to the final match and earned a second-place finish behind Dryden.

Coach Powers' recent challenge to the squad to double their block stats has produced results. The team had 20 blocks in the Dryden tournament, 5 each by Prybyl, Armstrong, and Miller. The tournament was sandwiched by Lansing's 3-0 wins over Southern Cayuga on 10/15 and Whitney Point on 10/18. Against Soco, Prybyl led blocking with 3; Miller and Howser each had 2; Armstrong, Brann, and Shaff, 1 each. At Whitney Point, Prybyl and Ryan had 3 blocks, Miller 2, and Stoyell 1.

Lansing started slowly in its home match against SoCo, losing 8 points to errors - half by setters and half defensive errors by front and back lines, 11-9. The team gained a 9 point lead, 24-15, with 5 kills and a couple aces, but ceded multiple points before a Southern Cayuga error ended the set, 25-21. Lansing's offense kicked in at the start of the second set, with 5 kills and a block, evenly matched by SoCo, 6-6. SoCo's attack generated a 5-point gap, 10-15, but Lansing retaliated with multiple aces, and a kill by Shanna Shaff, 24-20. A dig by Washburn protected Lansing's shrinking lead, and a SoCo attack error gave Lansing the set, 25-22.

Lansing Varsity and Junior Varsity Teams

The 3rd set was marked by an uptick in Lansing blocking and cleaner play. It was also highlighted by contributions across the Lansing line-up and the team's smooth transitions. Amber Ryan didn't miss a beat when she hit the floor as middle blocker. Vanessa Corey delivered digs and serve receptions, and the match ended after a kill by Karina Warkentin, assisted by Sally Stoyell, 25-11. Ten players joined the attack, 8 pitched in kills, and no one had more than 1 attack error. Howser had 5 aces; Brann, Armstrong, Prybyl each had 3. Washburn led in serve receptions (11), Miller in digs (7), and Washburn was notable for good passes. Armstrong and Brann each had 7 assists.

At Whitney Point on 10/18, Lansing dominated. Although Whitney Point's serves and attacks found occasional weak spots, Lansing controlled play throughout, winning 25-17, 25-14, 25-11. Stoyell fed the attack with 6 assists (35%) and added 2 kills (40%), 4 aces, and 15 service points. Miller had 6 kills (46%), 10 digs, 2 aces, 13 service points; Prybyl 4 kills (50%), 4 digs, 3 aces and 8 service points; Ryan, 3 blocks, 2 kills (40%); Howser 3 aces, 10 service points, 1 kill, 3 digs, 1 assist; Brann 3 assists (25%), 2 aces, 10 service points, 1 dig; Thomas 5 digs, 2 aces, 2 service points, Washburn 2 digs; Shaff 1 kill; Warkentin 1 dig, 2 service points.

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