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Balanced effort sends Warriors volleyball team into the third round
Regan Hill
West Iredell’s Jordan Ostwalt prepares to tip the ball over the net during Tuesday’s second-round playoff match.
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Published: October 28, 2009
It has been said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
The West Iredell volleyball team, which seemingly has no weak links, showed its team strength with a dominating 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-16) victory over Hickory Ridge.
Tuesday's win put the Warriors (21-1) into the third round of the 3A state playoffs.
"I feel very lucky," West coach Krystle Miller said. "I feel that we're very strong at every position on the court. There's not many coaches who can say that about their team."
The Warriors started out slowly in game one, falling behind 16-11 to the Raging Bulls, before senior Amy Deal took over.
The lefthander delivered a spectacular kill to give West the momentum, then served eight consecutive points to put the Warriors firmly in control of the game.
Senior Anna Johnson, who finished with 13 kills, also helped turned the tide in game one, rising high to deliver six kills.
"We started off kind of slow then we picked it up and started playing like we know how to play," Johnson said. "We knew we had to pull together."
Miller has seen slow starts before.
"It seems like every game we start off slowly," Miller said. "I told them that they're the Comeback Queens. I think that they like me to get antsy over here. I'm just glad that they picked it up."
Deal, who finished with 14 kills and seven digs, also came up big in the decisive third game, delivering seven kills to ice the victory.
"Most teams aren't used to a left-handed hitter," Deal said. "They set up their blocks for a right-handed person and I try to use good angles to get points."
Hickory Ridge coach Patty Chasen was impressed with the Warriors.
"They have a tenacious hitting team," Chasen said. "Their offense is a quick offense, which we don't get the opportunity to see a lot of. Their fast tempo makes it hard on the defense."
Jordan Ostwalt set the table for West's hitters with 40 assists, and Tess Sigmon had a great all-around performance with six kills, seven digs and two aces.
Johnson would love to finish her Warrior career with a deep playoff run.
"It would be amazing to win the state title," said Johnson. "It would be like the icing on the cake for my senior year. If we play hard, play together, play for each other ... we can win it."
West will host either Weddington or Concord in the third round.
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