VB: Lady Bears sharp in sweep of Kennard
Tuesday night's match with Kennard. The Lady Bears recorded the
sweep, 3-0. (Photo by John Krueger
TIMPSON -- The Timpson Lady Bears had their workout schedule changed to early mornings recently because of teachers' inservice and the alteration apparently caused the team to 'wake up' gainst Kennard Tuesday night here at the Eakin Sports Complex to the tune of a 3-0 sweep. THS won the match, 25-20, 25-18, 25-10.
The victory snapped a five-match losing skid for the Lady Bears as they improved to 2-5 on the year as the team prepares to take part in the Groveton tourney this Thursday through Saturday.
"We just might have to make this change in our workout schedule permanent if we continue to play like this," Lady Bear first-year Head Coach Tori Neugebauer stated after the match. "We seemed to be more alert in practice and we got a lot done."
The Lady Bears were coming off the Carthage Tournament this past weekend, which gave the team a good look at what to expect this season, according to Neugebauer.
"I think by playing the tough competition at the tournament, it showed the girls a glimpse of what good competition is like and how they should play the game," the coach stated. "To get to that level and play with the kind of intensity that some of the teams played in that tournament, you really have to get after it.
"Tonight the girls came out with a lot of hustle and the teamwork they displayed was very evident. There's no doubt that this is going to be a confidence builder for us."
Timpson played the Lady Tigers just last Tuesday night and had to go five games before squeaking out a victory on the road. But there appeared to be a different team on the floor for the home team than the Lady Bears who barely won their season opener.
The game started slow for the Lady Bears, but they appeared to get stronger as the evening wore on. THS used strong serving by Harley Martin in the opener. She started the game by serving a pair of points, with a service ace and the help of a kill by Shelby Sanford.
Timpson still struggled with unforced errors from time to time, but did a much better job of stringing together runs than they did at the Carthage tourney. Trailing 13-12, the Lady Bears received control back because of an error by Kennard. The Lady Bears then went on an 8-1 run, with most of the attack coming with Martin once again at the service line.
Martin served four aces as she helped THS to a 17-13 lead. Then Dustee Tipton served up an ace and suddenly the Lady Bears were on top 22-16. The Lady Tigers scored a pair of points, but a block by Martin and a kill by Tipton ended the opening game, giving Timpson the 25-20 victory.
"It was important that we fought hard to get the first win," Neugebauer. "I that helped us get stronger as the night went on."
After falling behind in the second game, Timpson's Sarah McCracken served four straight points, including a pair of aces that put the Lady Bears on top 5-3. Kennard closed within 7-6, but THS continued to hold the lead until a kill by Martin and a block by Tammi Harris jumpstarted the home squad.
The Lady Bears became more aggressive at the net at that point, receiving kills from Harris, Brittany McSwain and a pair from Fanguy to open up a 19-12 lead. Fanguy then served three straight aces and Tipton ended the game with a slamming kill at the net.
After securing the 25-18 victory in Game 2, Timpson made short work of the Lady Tigers in the third game, posting 10 aces to roll to the 25-10 decision.
Martin served two straight aces early on and Sanford served an ace and three straight points to give Timpson an 11-5 advantage.
After Kennard scored a pair of points it was all Timpson from there. Tipton served the final four points, with three of them coming on aces.