The streak continues

As the season nears the halfway point, The Encampment Tigers Volleyball team vanquished two more rivals last week-including the second ranked team in the conference-cementing the team in first place in the 1A Southwest Conference.

The Encampment netters soundly defeated Hanna Thursday on the Miners' home court, then defeated second-ranked Farson-Eden Friday at home. The defending state champions swept both of their competitors in three sets last week, continuing to show its dominance this season on the court.

Thursday, the Tigers defeated the Hanna Miners in three sets, holding Hanna to fewer than 10 points in each set. Encampment won decisively, scoring 25-9 in the first set, 25-7 in the second and 25-9 in the third.

Sierra Martinez of Encampment served 19 and 21 times in two sets, hitting five aces. Martinez also earned 20 assists for the match. Paige Powell delivered five kills and 15 blocks, and Noelle Peterson made 8 kills for the team.

"Our serve receive did a good job of getting our setter the ball," said Robin O'Leary, Encampment's coach. "Our setter did a good job of getting all of our hitters many opportunities and our hitters put the ball away."

"These were fun games," O'Leary said.

Friday, the Lady Tigers hosted the second ranked Farson-Eden Pronghorns in Encampment. In the first set, the Pronghorns stuck close to the Tigers in scoring, going down 25-20. In the second and third sets, the Tigers parlayed their momentum into stronger scoring, defeating the Farson-Eden 25-14 in the second set and 25-18 in the third.

"The varsity game was full or really long volleys which let us use the defense we have been working on all week," O'Leary said. "I was pleased with the improvements we made this week."

The Tigers may be ranked number one in their conference right now, but O'Leary won't let the team rest on those laurels just yet. "(We) still have ball setter (and) ball hitter work to do," O'Leary noted.

The Tigers will face off against the Saratoga Panthers at Saratoga 3 p.m. Sept. 30. The next day, the Tigers will be at home against Cokeville to face off against another group of Panthers at 2 p.m.