Friday, September 18, 2009

In five, Carey nips the Lady Conquerors

Early-season volleyball on the Panther court


Consistent serving is the first step to team success on the volleyball court. That's always been a focus of the Carey School Panthers volleyball program directed by sixth-year head coach Kathy Whitworth.

This year's Carey squad (2-2, 1-2 league) showed why serving is so important during a tight Northside Conference match against the Magic Valley Christian Conquerors Thursday on the Panther hardwoods.

Carey won its first league match of the season 25-18, 25-14, 23-25, 19-25, 15-7. But the Conquerors led by senior middle blocker Kristina Reitsma (17 kills, 3 blocks) put up a good fight that put Carey to a test.

The home team's most consistent server, Carey senior Jessica Parke, blew the Conquerors off the floor with 11 straight successful serves for a 14-6 lead during the 25-18 Panther first-game victory. Four kills by sophomore Darby Northcott helped.

Still struggling to put the ball in play and get its own serving house in order, Magic Valley Christian dropped the second game 25-14 when Carey senior Taylor Whitby picked up the serving torch and reeled off eight consecutive winners to break open a 10-10 nailbiter.

But Carey couldn't score at all on Parke's serve in the second, third and fourth games—and the loss of concentration finally caught up with the Panthers. Magic Valley Christian took over the net, Reitsma and sophomore middle blocker Dineka Ringling (3 blocks) doing damage.

It came down to a decisive fifth game. Carey senior Jenni Murphy served five winners for a 6-1 Panther lead. The Conquerors battled back to 8-7, until an outstanding dig by Carey senior Amy Ellsworth netted a point and sent Parke to the stripe.

Parke ripped off six consecutive winners helped by an Ellsworth tip and a Murphy kill to seal the win.

Kill leaders for Carey were Murphy 12 and sophomore Micaela Adamson 11. Winning serves came from Parke (17, 3 aces), Whitby (12, 3 aces), Murphy (10, 4 aces) and Adamson (10, 4 aces). Jordan Edwards was the Conquerors serving leader with 12 winners.

Carey improved its home record to 2-1. On Aug. 27 in their home debut, the Panthers defeated Mackay 25-22, 13-25, 15-11 and dropped a Northside decision to Dietrich by scores of 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-19.




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