VB: Gary spikers slam Karnack, 3-1
against Karnack Tuesday night. (Photo by John Krueger)
GARY, Tx -- The Gary Lady Bobcats set their goal to claim one of the three playoff spots from the District 20-1A volleyball chase this season. Even though they didn't reach that goal, they made many strides along the way.
The Lady Bobcats wrapped up the 2011 season on Tuesday night the same way they started it - with a win as they knocked off Karnack, 25-9, 23-25, 25-12, 25-12, in their District 20-1A finale here at Bobcat Gymnasium.
After posting victories in their first five matches, Gary struggled during segments of its schedule, but still managed to finish leaps and bounds over last year's squad.
The 2011 squad recorded nine more wins than a year ago, began the season with, not only a win, but a winning streak, and posted three wins against district competition
Against Karnack on Tuesday, the Lady Bobcats had little trouble putting the Indians away as Gary was successful on 92.6% (87-of-94) of its serves, while recording 25 aces. Josie Anderson, Colby Ransom and Sean Lindquist were all perfect from the line, with Ransom successful on all 34 of her serves and Anderson making good on all 12 of hers.
Ransom finished the match with eight aces, while Anderson added six and Brittany Odom (16-of-17 successful serves) and Katalynn Bird posted three apiece.
Heather Deason led Gary in kills with 10, while Bird added seven and Odom and Lindquist each posted four. As a team, the Lady Bobcats posted 31 kills
Leading Gary in assists was Odom with 10, while Channa Bird added nine and Ransom posted six.
Set 1
The Lady Bobcats came out of the 'starting gates' in a hurry as Ransom had a pair of aces and Anderson added one as Gary took a 6-1 lead. The Indians made an early charge, trimming the advantage to 7-5, but Odom then served nine straight points. She received help from four kills by Deason.
After Karnack pulled to within 17-7, Gary scored eight of the next 10 points to end the set. Lindquist helped out with a pair of aces and Anderson tagged a pair of kills.
Set 2
Karnack took the offensive to begin the second set, claiming a 5-3 lead early on. But Bird served a pair of aces and Odom went to the line and served three points, including an ace.
The score remained close for the remainder of the set after the Indians pulled closer. After Gary led 20-18, Karnack scored four straight points and then traded scores until the visitors had tied the match with a close 25-23 victory.
Set 3
Gary then took charge of the match once again in the third set. Ransom served the first seen points of the set, including a pair of aces, and Anderson followed that up with seven straight points, with five of hers coming as aces.
Leading 15-1, the Lady Bobcats never looked back in that set, winning easily, 25-12.
Set 4
It was more of the same in the fourth set with Gary scoring the first 11 points, including three points coming from aces served by Ransom and a pair of kills by Bird. Karnack never threatened again after that as GHS won going away, 25-12.