Lady Vikings Spike Rival Manchester
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Winning 25-16, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20, the Lady Vikings improved to 12-5 and 3-0 in the TRC and avenged that loss earlier in the season.
“I was curious about how they would come out, knowing they had beaten us,” Valley coach Mallory Eaton said. “We did not play our best (at the Manchester Invitational). I was curious as to how we would react and how they would react. You just never know.”
Valley came out strong, winning the opening two games, taking the first by scoring 13 of the game’s final 15 points after trailing 14-12, then never being tested in the second.
But in the third, the Lady Squires, who have a goal this season of not being swept in a best-of-five match, came back to win, even after falling behind 23-21.
“Our mental toughness has come a long way, but we still have a long way to go,” Manchester coach Rebekah Brown said.
Brown’s girls continued to fight in the fourth, climbing within 21-20, forcing Eaton to call a timeout.
“Once matches get tight like that, the intensity and the adrenaline is so high that the girls almost try to do too much, and then you have a mistake,” Eaton said. “Also, every coach likes to call timeout to put pressure on the server, and I like to ice them a little bit. But the main thing was to tell my girls to breathe.”
The strategy worked on both fronts, as Manchester’s server served into the net, then Valley took the next three points to win the game and the match.
Valley senior Caylie Teel continued her strong week, recording 25 kills, pushing her total to 67 in three matches this week.
Teel also had seven blocks, but she wasn’t the only force up front, as sophomore Abby Betten had seven kills and three blocks and junior Lexi O’Connell recorded five kills and seven blocks.
With Teel’s talent evident, Eaton’s been working to get her some help up front, and it’s beginning to take shape.
“Now that we’re finally beginning to get more comfortable in the back row, we’re trying to get more focus on Abby getting acclimated and getting Lexi more acclimated and connecting again,” she said. “I feel like they’re continually working hard at it. They work hard every day and I never see them give up. It’s just getting the experience. Lexi didn’t begin playing until eighth grade and Abby’s never been in this position.”
Also for Valley, junior Maddy Henninger had 17 assists and senior Jaden Biddle posted 16 digs from her libero position.
On the other side of the net, Brown was without one of her frontline players in junior Kendra Binkley, but felt her subs filled in admirably.
“Girls stepped up and filled roles as well as they could,” she said. “I was impressed with what we were able to manage in a two-day time span, between Tuesday and today.”
Sophomore Cierra Carter led the Lady Squires with 12 kills, while junior Corrie Osborne had two blocks.
Sophomore setter Rae Bedke also had two blocks, but did much more, getting 21 assists, three digs and kept the Lady Vikings’ defense off-balance by using tips instead of passes at times.
“Our team relies on her,” Brown said of Bedke. “She is our only setter, she’s plays all around the court and is often one of our speaking captains. She’s one that will stay after practice, working on those tips and working on the those dumps, just so when game-time comes around, she’s not nervous about using them.”
After winning just two matches a year ago, Manchester now sits at 7-12 (1-2 TRC), so each match – win or lose – is a chance to learn and improve.
“I love these girls – they’re like my kids,” Brown said. “I feel very protective of them and I like to encourage them. I enjoy seeing them grow.”
Manchester will be at Leo for an invitational Saturday, while Valley will be at the Wawasee Invitational.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY DEF. MANCHESTER 25-16, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20
Aces – Kayla Scott (TV) 3, Jaden Biddle (TV) 2, Madison Miller (TV) 2, Ellie Milam (M) 2, Cierra Carter (M) 2, Ali Casper (M) 2; Assists – Rae Bedke (M) 21, Maddy Henninger (TV) 17, Tenaya Shull (TV) 10; Blocks – Lexi O’Connell (TV) 7, Caylie Teel (TV) 7, Mia Gunnels (TV) 4, Corrie Osborne (M) 3, Bedke (M) 2; Digs – Biddle (TV) 16, Marret Metzger (M) 12, Milam (M) 11, O’Connell (TV) 9, Kaitlyn Parrett (M) 8, Casper (M) 7, Teel (TV) 6, Olivia Trippiedi (TV) 6, Carter (M) 6, Leah Sorg (M) 6; Kills – Teel (TV) 25, Carter (M) 12, Abby Betten (TV) 7, O’Connell (TV) 5, Sorg (M) 5.
Records: Valley 12-5 (3-0 TRC), 7-12 (1-2 TRC).
JV – Valley def. Manchester 25-16, 22-25, 15-5.
Manchester JV Stats: Assists – Kendra Auler 6, Paige Wagoner 3; Digs – Karly Eichenauer 8, Alyssa Spann 5, Madison Sorg 4, Emma Casper 4; Kills – Leiah Brandenburg 3, Mattie McKee 2.[[In-content Ad]]
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Winning 25-16, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20, the Lady Vikings improved to 12-5 and 3-0 in the TRC and avenged that loss earlier in the season.
“I was curious about how they would come out, knowing they had beaten us,” Valley coach Mallory Eaton said. “We did not play our best (at the Manchester Invitational). I was curious as to how we would react and how they would react. You just never know.”
Valley came out strong, winning the opening two games, taking the first by scoring 13 of the game’s final 15 points after trailing 14-12, then never being tested in the second.
But in the third, the Lady Squires, who have a goal this season of not being swept in a best-of-five match, came back to win, even after falling behind 23-21.
“Our mental toughness has come a long way, but we still have a long way to go,” Manchester coach Rebekah Brown said.
Brown’s girls continued to fight in the fourth, climbing within 21-20, forcing Eaton to call a timeout.
“Once matches get tight like that, the intensity and the adrenaline is so high that the girls almost try to do too much, and then you have a mistake,” Eaton said. “Also, every coach likes to call timeout to put pressure on the server, and I like to ice them a little bit. But the main thing was to tell my girls to breathe.”
The strategy worked on both fronts, as Manchester’s server served into the net, then Valley took the next three points to win the game and the match.
Valley senior Caylie Teel continued her strong week, recording 25 kills, pushing her total to 67 in three matches this week.
Teel also had seven blocks, but she wasn’t the only force up front, as sophomore Abby Betten had seven kills and three blocks and junior Lexi O’Connell recorded five kills and seven blocks.
With Teel’s talent evident, Eaton’s been working to get her some help up front, and it’s beginning to take shape.
“Now that we’re finally beginning to get more comfortable in the back row, we’re trying to get more focus on Abby getting acclimated and getting Lexi more acclimated and connecting again,” she said. “I feel like they’re continually working hard at it. They work hard every day and I never see them give up. It’s just getting the experience. Lexi didn’t begin playing until eighth grade and Abby’s never been in this position.”
Also for Valley, junior Maddy Henninger had 17 assists and senior Jaden Biddle posted 16 digs from her libero position.
On the other side of the net, Brown was without one of her frontline players in junior Kendra Binkley, but felt her subs filled in admirably.
“Girls stepped up and filled roles as well as they could,” she said. “I was impressed with what we were able to manage in a two-day time span, between Tuesday and today.”
Sophomore Cierra Carter led the Lady Squires with 12 kills, while junior Corrie Osborne had two blocks.
Sophomore setter Rae Bedke also had two blocks, but did much more, getting 21 assists, three digs and kept the Lady Vikings’ defense off-balance by using tips instead of passes at times.
“Our team relies on her,” Brown said of Bedke. “She is our only setter, she’s plays all around the court and is often one of our speaking captains. She’s one that will stay after practice, working on those tips and working on the those dumps, just so when game-time comes around, she’s not nervous about using them.”
After winning just two matches a year ago, Manchester now sits at 7-12 (1-2 TRC), so each match – win or lose – is a chance to learn and improve.
“I love these girls – they’re like my kids,” Brown said. “I feel very protective of them and I like to encourage them. I enjoy seeing them grow.”
Manchester will be at Leo for an invitational Saturday, while Valley will be at the Wawasee Invitational.
TIPPECANOE VALLEY DEF. MANCHESTER 25-16, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20
Aces – Kayla Scott (TV) 3, Jaden Biddle (TV) 2, Madison Miller (TV) 2, Ellie Milam (M) 2, Cierra Carter (M) 2, Ali Casper (M) 2; Assists – Rae Bedke (M) 21, Maddy Henninger (TV) 17, Tenaya Shull (TV) 10; Blocks – Lexi O’Connell (TV) 7, Caylie Teel (TV) 7, Mia Gunnels (TV) 4, Corrie Osborne (M) 3, Bedke (M) 2; Digs – Biddle (TV) 16, Marret Metzger (M) 12, Milam (M) 11, O’Connell (TV) 9, Kaitlyn Parrett (M) 8, Casper (M) 7, Teel (TV) 6, Olivia Trippiedi (TV) 6, Carter (M) 6, Leah Sorg (M) 6; Kills – Teel (TV) 25, Carter (M) 12, Abby Betten (TV) 7, O’Connell (TV) 5, Sorg (M) 5.
Records: Valley 12-5 (3-0 TRC), 7-12 (1-2 TRC).
JV – Valley def. Manchester 25-16, 22-25, 15-5.
Manchester JV Stats: Assists – Kendra Auler 6, Paige Wagoner 3; Digs – Karly Eichenauer 8, Alyssa Spann 5, Madison Sorg 4, Emma Casper 4; Kills – Leiah Brandenburg 3, Mattie McKee 2.[[In-content Ad]]
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