Cards Top Grizz In Competitive Match

The Grizzly Den inside Grace High School was the place to be in Caribou County last Thursday.  That is where two very good up and coming volleyball teams did battle.  Despite the difference in classifications some of the old feelings of a cross county rivalry remain whenever the Grace Grizzlies and the Soda Springs Cardinals face off.  An enthusiastic crowd that featured student sections in full throat were treated to a very entertaining competition.  The two teams are very evenly matched in both skill and make up of players.  Each team has some good size at the net as well as great back row players that had some big digs.  Both teams are also led by young coaches early in their careers who are each also former players for the teams they now head.

Let's get into the action.  In game one of this best of five match the Cardinals jumped out to the early lead.  This was helped by several hits from the Grizzlies going long out of bounds.  With the lead growing to six points Grace called the first timeout to try to settle down and correct some of their long hits.  Out of the timeout Grace did get the lead cut to two points but the Cardinals appeared to be more comfortable and confident in their offense and took the lead back to five points.  With a four point deficit and the Cardinals closing in on the victory Grace called another timeout.  The Grizzlies came out of the timeout hungry to get back into the game outscoring the Cardinals five to two making the score 23-22 in Soda's favor.  Soda got the last say however as they finished off the game winning 25-22.

With the momentum now in their favor Soda took the early lead in the second set.  The lead did not last long however as Grace would battle back tying the game up at seven.  After the Grizzlies took their first lead of the night on the next play, Soda took their first timeout.  Over the next several volleys there was some great net play as Eddins, Jorgensen, Williams and Olenslager took some big swings for Grace while Somsen, Green and Hopkins worked on building a wall getting some good blocks for Soda.  The Grizzlies got the advantage in this set and took the lead to 24-18.  Soda made one last effort to stay alive in this one by making a long tip that grabbed the back line.  That was as close as they would get, however, as Grace scored on the next play finishing set two with the largest set win of the night 25-19.

In set three, the game was close in the early going, eventually getting tied up at six points a piece.  The Grizzlies then grabbed the ever changing momentum swings and held the lead for the next several minutes.  With the Grizzlies closing in on the win leading 22-17 the Cardinals came soaring back.  A big block by Whitworth and Green followed by some great serving by Somsen saw the game tied once again at 22.  After leading by five points Grace finished the set  being outscored eight to one and the Cardinals got the big comeback win in the set 25-23.

The fourth set was chock full of drama.  Grace jumped up to an early five point lead and Soda took a timeout.  Out of the timeout the Cardinals would fly back into the match and close the gap to just two.  The back and forth battle would continue for the majority of the next several serves with Grace calling a timeout of their own, leading 17-16.  Soda came out of the timeout the aggressors and got their first lead of the set eventually going up 20-18.  It was at this moment that Grace was forced to make an injury substitution when Olenslager had to leave the game with a bloody nose.  Her replacement sophomore Amanda Cooper cold off of the bench had an immediate impact scoring on her first hit.  However the Cardinals would take the ball right back and with the young Anna Davis serving, Soda pushed the score to 24-19.  A long rally that saw a number of incredible plays on both sides of the court ended with the ball hitting and rolling on the outside of the antenna kept Grace alive.  Eddins followed up that close call with a kill.  That combined with some clutch serving by Zulu had the Grizzlies right back in the game as the score was tied once again at twenty-four.  The Lady Cardinals would not let the game go as they would score the final two points winning the set 26-24 and taking the match 3-1.  

This was an incredible match to watch with every set being close and hard fought.  Despite the great competitive play by both teams each coach saw areas that they would like to work on but nonetheless they were both proud of their girls ability to battle back when being down on the scoreboard.  Coach Johnson for the Cardinals highlighted McKartie Green who she said had been flying under the radar but had some great moments in this match.  Coach Christensen pointed out the play of Lakelynn Zulu who had some great serving on the night to help keep the Grizzlies in the game.

The Grizzlies have a tough week this week as they will face Murtaugh on Wednesday then conference rival Butte County at home on Thursday.  Meanwhile Soda Springs will get a little break before heading to Wendell on Saturday for a tri-match with Wendell and Aberdeen.