By John Harden/sports editor
The SE Tigers and NW Jokesters each managed to blow away their opponents in their campus volleyball tournaments to advance to the District Cup Championship, but it was South’s Homeland Security that claimed the district trophy.
By winning their respective campus tournaments, the Tigers, Homeland Security and Jokesters advanced to the first District Cup for volleyball.
The Tigers’ first game was against Homeland Security.
At first, the Tigers’ offense and defense looked solid, gaining an early sizable lead against Homeland in the first set.
Laura Winter and Michaela Redding both gave their team the offensive power it needed while Cody Robbins and Ian Ussery provided the defense allowing for an early lead.
But Homeland maintained its composure under pressure and mounted a late-game comeback by expanding its defense, tying the score 20-20.
Homeland’s David Lawson and Ashley Onley helped their team get back in the game by playing the net and delivering many blocked shots and digs. Homeland managed to steal the set, 25-23.
The second set was as close as the first, but this time it was the Tigers trying to play catch-up.
Homeland and the Tigers played solid games with few mistakes, but Homeland ended clearly in control.
With a collective effort, the Homeland team kept the Tigers at bay to win the set and the game, 25-21.
Homeland players admitted that the Tigers were the toughest challenge they’ve ever faced.
“ I would say that they gave us the most trouble,” said Homeland’s Taylor Elrod. “They know how to actually play volleyball unlike some of the other teams we’ve played in the past tournaments.”
The Tigers ended the district tournament in second place but expected better results.
“ I hate losing. I can‘t really stand it,” said Tigers player Laura Winter. “Whenever I lose, I feel like I could have done better, but still I had fun. It‘s great that each campus does tournaments like this.”
Homeland’s next game was against the NW Jokesters. And the outcome was the same as with the Tigers.
The Jokesters played well, but again Homeland won both sets and claimed the 2008 District Volleyball Championship.
The NW Jokesters placed third in the district tournament also losing to the Tigers, going 0-2.
Homeland Security played and won many games to make it to the finals, and player Ashley Onley said her team’s district win is well-deserved.
“ I feel good that we won,” she said. “We worked hard to get here, and I’m happy that it all paid off.”
