Tigers go into post-season with high expectations

Why not us? That phrase has been the Encampment Lady Tigers (5-0, 20-1 overall) mantra this season. And they have lived by that mantra on the court. As a team that has come together through the season with only one loss in their overall record, they are proving that this year, it just may be them.

But head coach Robin O'Leary is still playing one game at a time.

Friday, the Lady Tigers will compete in 2015 1A West Regional Volleyball Tournament in Lander. Their first opponent is St. Stephens, which is ranked No. 4 in the Northwest Conference.

The first set is at 10 a.m., at the Lander High School gym. Alyssa Barkhurst said they are in the best position at regionals and she hopes to come out of regionals with the best position to go into state. "We obviously want to take the title," Barkhurst said.

"This was a great way to end the season," O'Leary said of the win against North Park Saturday afternoon.

The junior varsity team plays with only five players on the floor and they have been proving that they can win with five players. It's a great advantage for the varsity team to have a bench as strong as the junior varsity to back them up.

Saturday, Cassidy Little returned to varsity play after being off for two weeks with a concussion.

She didn't play the first game – O'Leary wanted to give the JV girls, Cheyanne Jordan and Kaylyn Herring, who had filled Little's position a chance in the final regular game of the season to see how they did with the varsity team. "They did a very good job while Cassidy was out," O'Leary said.

The junior varsity had to go three sets against the North Park Wild Cats (6-7, 9-9). The Tigers had lost the first set, but came back in the next two sets to take the win.

With the varsity team back to their six starters O'Leary said they did not miss a beat. Little, despite being out for two weeks came in strong with three kills out of three attempts against North Park.

In the first set, the varsity Lady Tigers were behind from the beginning and it looked as if they were in for a fight. At 6 points down, the Lady Tigers regrouped and scored 5 points to the Wild Cats' 3 points. Once the Tigers had their momentum going they didn't stop and went onto win the first set 25-23.

In the second set, Cassidy rejoined the team. Having her on the court, again seemed to lift the girls confidence and after the set was tied at 3 points, the Lady Tigers went on to take control, winning 25-12. In the third set, the Lady Tigers pounded the Wild Cats with their kills and won 25-9.

A. Barkhurst played a strong match with 11 kills to her credit, Paige Powell followed up with 9 kills. Both girls had 11 digs.

McKenzie Powell had a good serving run with 18 successful services, two aces and seven kills, while Hailey Barkhurst scored three aces out of her 14 serves and had seven kills.

For A. Barkhurst the final game of the regular season was bittersweet. Before the game, the teammates presented the seniors with gifts – one of which was notes written by families and friends. "I held it together pretty well until Hailey came and hugged me," A. Barkhurst said. "We are more than just a team," A. Barkhurst said. "This team has been the most united team I have ever been on. A lot of teams say they are family, but we really are."

It is difficult to express in print how phenomenal the Lady Tigers have been this season. They have been in sync with each other all season. A. Barkhurst attributes that to the team bonding and the fact they are friends on and off the court. "We communicate very well and we practice like we want to play," A. Barkhust said.

"We have appreciated everyone's support this season," A. Barkhurst said.

As O'Leary put it, "You have this type of team once in a lifetime."