Lady Trojans mount dramatic comeback win over rival Granite
DRUMMOND – Whatever you expect in a game between rival schools, Tuesday night’s volleyball match between Granite and Drummond checked all the boxes.
Down 2-1 and needing a win headed into the District 13 Tournament next week, the Lady Trojans rallied to win a hard-fought match 3-2 over the Lady Prospectors. The match did little to affect the district standings, but according to DHS Head Coach Paige Fickler it gave them a much needed boost of confidence.
“I think heading into the tournament just because it solidifies that we can contend for one or two,” she observed. “Whereas prior to this win I don’t think anybody thought we were gonna end anywhere but three or four because we are a .500 team at this point record wise.”
Granite held off a late run by Drummond to win the opener 25-20, only to watch the Lady Trojans rebound for a 25-16 victory that tied the match at 1-1. The Lady Trojan claimed the third set 25-19 to take a 2-1 advantage. But the host team rallied to claim sets four and five and escape with a much needed win.
While Drummond got solid play out of its normal cast of characters, it was a coming out party of sorts for junior Liz Perry. Perry - normally a quieter and less active player on the roster – stepped to become a solid secondary threat. She tied teammate Holly Hauptman for the team lead in kills with 11 and added a block and five service aces to become a force at the net.
“I just want to do good,” explained Perry of her play, “I don’t care if we win or lose as long as we do good, because that’s what sports is about. … I think sports are about learning different things and becoming a better person that leads you into the future. And so I think with that mind set you can do anything.”
While Granite lost the match, they clearly displayed a level of volleyball that will be tough for opponents to deal with when the District 13 Tournament starts next week.
“I feel very confident,” said senior Asha Coming, who finished with seven kills, a block and an ace on offense. “I think we’re gonna have good days and we’re gonna have bad days. Stuff happens. But I think we have a very good shot at taking districts.”
GHS Head Coach Kaley Hansen saw areas that her team will need to work on before that tournament.
“Tonight was tough,” said Hansen. “We had too many unforced errors. Luckily we have a few practices to work out some kinks and get back to where we need to be.”
Like Drummond, Granite had a pair of hitters step up big with Lucia Lee and Reece Pitcher each collecting nine kills, most of which we executed off the game-best 18 assists dished out by teammate Rachel Ward. Anna Belle Locke had 25 digs for the Lady Prospectors while Ward and Gretchen Hill each had a pair of aces.
Hauptman and Perry’s 22 kills came primarily from the hands of setter Jesse Struna who handed out 17 assists, with Paytn Rasor adding six. Struna also had six aces while Hauptman added three to go along with a trio of blocks. For the second straight night sophomore Bailey Parke led Drummond defensively with 23 digs.
The Lady Trojans get a day off and will play their final home match of the 2021 season Thursday when they host Darby for Senior Night. Games will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity at 7. Drummond closes out the year Friday at Powell County.
Granite will get more time to lick its wounds before finishing the season at home Saturday in a varsity-only match against Lincoln at 1:30 p.m.
SCORING
Granite 25/16/25/19/10 – 2
Drummond – 20/25/19/25/15 – 3
Kills – (G) Lee 9, Comings 7, Hill 3, Ward 3, Pitcher 9, Lilyquist 3, (D) Wagner 6, Spencer 2, Hauptman 11, Nelson 2, Perry 11
Blocks – (G) Lee 2.5, Comings 1, Pitcher 6.5, Lilyquist 4, (D) Hauptman 3, Struna 1, Perry 1
Assists – (G) Lee 2, Tallon 7, Ward 18, (D) Spencer 1, Struna 17, Rasor 6
Digs – (G) Lee 1, Comings 16, Hill 10, Locke 25, Tallon 6, Smith 1, Ward 9, Pitcher 1, Lilyquist 1, (D) Parke 23, Wagner 2, Spencer 5, Hauptman 13, Struna 3, Nelson 2, Perry 3, Williams 6, Rasor 10
Aces – (G) Comings 1, Hill 2, Locke 1, Tallon 1, Ward 2, Pitcher 1, (D) Hauptman 3, Struna 6, Perry 5, Rasor 2
Junior Varsity
Drummond def. Granite
25-17, 25-11, 14-16, 15-13
Granite battled back after Drummond took a 2-0 lead, but the Lady Trojan JV closed it out with a tight win in set four.
Delaney Wagner led Drummond with six kills while teammate Kimber Parsons had five. Bailey Parke was tops in assists with six while Brooke Hicks had five aces.
For Granite the leading hitter was Ramsey Smith with five kills with Montannah Piar close behind at four. Addison Spehar dished five assists Regan McDonald tied Smith with two aces each.
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