For the 2nd time is 24 hours, the Crestview Lady Knights were back on the floor. This time taking on the Delphos Jefferson Wildcats, in Northwest Conference Action.
Just like Monday night, the Lady Knights got off to a fast start in the first set, scoring the first 6 straight points. The Lady Cats would get their third point on a long rally, and that would start a 5 point streak for the, getting the set to 8-9.
Again, the team would trade point and mini runs, getting the score to a 13-13 tie. Crestview Head Coach Tammy Gregory would call a timeout with Jefferson up 15-14. They’d win 2 straight coming out of the TO. They’d continue trading, until finally, the Lady Knights would win a very competitive first set, 25-22.
The 2nd set was like looking in a mirror. The Lady Knights jumped out to a STRONG start, forcing the Lady Cats to call a timeout down 9-2 quickly. Jefferson would get it to 12-7, before Crestview would win a long rally, that had a lot of saves and digs, to go up 13-7.
It was pure domination by the Lady Knights from that point on, winning the 2nd set by a score of 25-13.
The Lady Knights would get the first point of the 3rd set, BUT, the Lady Cats, were not going to let them get off to another hot start. Jefferson would take the lead early, at 3-1. They’d trade back and forth, before the Lady Cats would score 3 straight points and going up 9-5. That mini-run would force Knights Head Coach Tammy Gregory to call an early timeout.
As she talked to her players, all eyes were focused on her. I don’t think any of the players actually blinked, as I watched and listened.
The timeout worked like gangbusters. It stopped the Lady Cats momentum C-O-L-D, as the Lady Knights would win the next 7 straight points to take a 12-9 lead.
Crestview #3 Kaci Gregory would make an incredible, one handed, diving save on the 28th point, that the Lady Knights would end up winning and going up 16-12. She is so fun to watch. More on her later.
Jefferson would call a timeout down 19-15. The Lady Cats would not go quietly. They’d get it as close as 21-18, but the Lady Knights would get the final 3 points and win the 3rd set 25-18, sweeping the match 3-0.
I spoke with Crestview Lady Knights Head Coach after the match.
I asked her about the teams 3 game winning streak.
“I’m happy. It feels good. Our girls feel good. You know, we’re playing different styles of volleyball. We played a lot of MAC opponents early, and they just come and hit at you. In our conference, it’s all different styles, so we just have to be prepared and play whatever style we need to play.”
Delaine Balliet has been on fire, serving the last 2 games. I asked Coach, if that was something she’s been working on.
“She’s definitely worked on it, and having to go up against our hitters everyday in practice, really helps with that.”
I asked Coach about Kaci Gregory, and her diving and the energy she brings to table, and what that means to the rest of the team.
“They feed off of her. They look at that and play harder for each other. She had three serving errors tonight, which is unlike her, but she went and made plays in other areas, and that shows leadership, and again, they feed off of that.”
The timeout in that 3rd set, was very timely. I asked Coach about that timeout.
“We had to squash that. As you know, volleyball is such a game of momentum, and they had the momentum, and we couldn’t let it get anymore out of hand. We had to get that momentum back on our side.”
Leading the way for the Lady Knights…..
Serving
Delanie Balliet 20/21 with 3 aces
Kenadie Schwartz 11/11 with 1 ace
Ayla Kreischer 12/12
Hitting
Kaci Gregory 15 kills
Kaylee Owens 8 kills
Ayla Kreischer 6 kills
Setting
Nora Perkins 17 assists
Kenadie Schwartz 13 assists
Digs
Ayla Kresicher 10 digs
Kaci Gregory & Kenadie Schwartz 7 digs each
Blocks
Alecta Baxter 4 stuff blocks
The Crestview Lady Knights are now 7-5 overall and 4-0 in the NWC. Crestview will be back in action on Thursday Night, as they host LCC in another conference matchup. The JV match will begin at 5:30pm.
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats courtesy of…..Tammy Gregory.
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