Lady Lions lose to defending champs
The Albany Lady Lions saw their volleyball season end disappointingly early last week with a loss in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Albany finished the season 30-8 behind a senior-laden lineup.
The Lady Lions advanced through bi-district on Tuesday, Oct. 31 with a 25-18, 31-29, 1925, 23-25, 16-14 victory against Water Valley at Snyder. The season ended Thursday, Nov. 2, with a 15-25, 16-25, 15-25 loss to Windthorst in the area round at Graham.
“We were definitely on the right track for where we wanted to be,” Lady Lions coach M.J. Reneau said. “If we’re going to lose to someone, Windthorst is thedefendingstatechamps.and I have no doubt they’ll be back at state this year.”
Albany fell into the same side of the bracket as Windthorst after finishing second in District 6-2A behind Hawley.
“I’mreallyproudofourseason and what we accomplished,” Reneau said. “It ended a little soonerthanwewanted,butthat was just part of the route we had to take. I think that makes us realize as we move on how important it is to win district so we can take that other route.”
AgainstWaterValley,Albany held off a determined comeback attempt after taking a 2-0 lead.
“That was the first time we’d gone five sets all year, and I wasn’t real sure how we were going to respond in that fifth set,especiallysinceWaterValley hadallthemomentumgoinginto it,”Reneausaid.“Icalledmylast timeout tied 14-14 and told the girls they had to get out there and win these next two points, and they did. They rose to the occasion and got the win.”
Kiana Roberson had 19 kills and two blocks with Caroline Holson adding 17 kills and a block to lead the Albany attack. Zayne Lefevre added six kills.
Abi Hale recorded a seasonhigh 52 assists to help her surpass 1,000 for the season.
Sixplayersfinishedindouble figures for digs, led by libero Robin Lucas with 33. Roberson added 19 and Hale 17 with Callan Edgar, Holson and Brooklyn Abbate each getting 10.
TheLadyLionsalsoenjoyeda solid performance on serve with Abbateservingfor28pointswith an ace and Hale serving for 27 points with three aces. Holson added 16 service points with three aces, while Lucas had 13 points with an ace, and Caroline Chapman had 11 points.
Against Windthorst, Albany struggled early and never got things going its way.
“We would have had to play withoutanyerrors,andwedidn’t do that,” Reneau said.
Holson had nine kills with Roberson adding six kills and three blocks.
Hale had 21 assists and matched Roberson with eight digs.LucasandLefevreeachhad six digs withAbbate adding five.
Hale and Holson each had nine service points and combined for three aces. Lucas and Chapman each served for six points.
