Quiet, competitive and versatile, Wood River High senior Ali Levy loves the game and is a good player to build a team around—whether it's on the softball field where she pitches or on the volleyball court.
Thursday night in Hailey, Wood River volleyball coach Tim Richards installed Levy in a new role as the team's libero. The libero wears a different jersey and is essentially a target in the backcourt for the opponents' serving and hitting—a defensive player who sets the offense in motion with her digs.
"We've struggled with our passing this year," said Richards. "Everything in volleyball starts when you have a pass and we needed someone who could do that for us. And Ali did great against Minico."
Levy received 24 balls from the Minico Spartans Thursday night and made only one error, setting the offense in gear with her digs and passes. And Wood River rebounded from Tuesday's tough three-game loss at Jerome with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-15 home league win over Minico.
"I thought we played solid defense and our passing was more consistent," said Richards. His team stayed in the hunt with Jerome for the second seed in the upcoming Great Basin Conference tournament.
The Hailey hitting wasn't shabby, either. Sophomore outside hitter/setter Lily Richards (11 kills, 15 serves, 2 digs) enjoyed perhaps her best match of the season. Six of her kills came in the third and final game when the Wolverines dominated Minico at the net.
Richards had extra motivation to perform well Thursday.
She is the fourth of four daughters of coach Tim Richards who have played and played well for Wood River over the past decade. Watching Thursday's match was her oldest sister, 2003 WRHS graduation Whitney, toting around her seven-month-old son Nolan.
"I believe this is the first time that any of Lily's sisters have watched her play volleyball at any level in secondary school," said proud grandfather and coach Richards. "And Lily played pretty well tonight."
So did senior outside hitter Allie Hesteness (5 kills, 2 digs) whose hammer blows from the left side were set up by the fine passing of senior setter Jessica Hamilton (17 assists, 19 serves, 2 kills). Hesteness had two clutch kills with the first game tied 19-19 that helped set the tone for the rest of the match.
Other Wolverine leaders were Jade Glenn (4 kills, 3 blocks), Kori Paradis (2 kills, 3 blocks) and Levy (4 digs, 16 serves). Minico junior Chelsea Hepworth spearheaded the Spartan hitting all evening.
Wood River (10-9, 3-2 league) improved its homecourt record to 7-3 with another home match against Canyon Ridge of Twin Falls (1-3 league) Tuesday.
The Jerome Tigers (4-7, 3-2 league) are Wood River's main competition for the #2 spot in the league behind runaway leader Twin Falls (27-5, 4-0). Jerome played Minico (1-4) Tuesday. Burley (2-3 league) hosts Wood River Oct. 5.
