HEM takes Guernsey-Sunrise in three sets

On Friday, after the impressive win of the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Miner football team, the residents of Hanna got to watch the Lady Miner volleyball team handily beat the Guernsey-Sunrise Lady Vikings.

The Lady Miners took control quickly and the Lady Vikings were down 11-6 in the first match, but the guests rallied to make it 16-12 and the HEM homecoming fans in attendance started to get nervous. The Lady Miners pulled together and won the first game 25-17.

The next game was all Lady Miners. They completely dominated the Lady Vikings with the game ending 25-11.

Guernsey-Sunrise didn't give up, but they never really got close. The third game had the Lady Miners comfortably ahead at 20 to 13 and the home crowd knew their team was probably going to win again. The crowd was right. The score ended with HEM ahead 25-17.

Jackie Jones, head volleyball coach, was not surprised at the win after watching the team play.

"I think against any opponent, whether we beat them before or not, we have to get in the mind set where we have to stay in our system in what we want to do," Jones said. "I think it was pretty clear to see, especially tonight, when we ran our system with Amy (Campbell) and Megan (Hunter) who had a tremendous night of volleyball at the night, if we are in our system, good things happen."

She said when the Lady Miners fall out of their system, things fall apart. This did not happen on this evening. Jones said the team was methodical in their playing.

Jones said all her players were improving as the season goes on.

"We are very balanced," Jones said. "Losing to the teams we have has been actually building confidence because several had many seniors and many of them are over six feet tall."

She said even though her team might not have come out on top, the Lady Miners did well.

"We played with the big dogs and put up a lot of points," Jones said. "This team doesn't give up."

A. Campbell made 22 kill shots and her sister, Madison Campbell, ended the evening with 29 assists.

Jones said Hunter was becoming a presence in the team's game along with the freshman who she has described before players that are learning through "trial by fire".

The next day at noon, the Lady Miners met Glendo Lady Eagles and the feathers were plucked from the visiting team. The scores were strongly in the Lady Miners favor at 25-7, 25-6 and 25-4.

"The Glendo game gave us an opportunity to play a lot of girls and try them in new positons," Jones said. "That win, along with our JV beating Chugwater, made for a victorious homecoming weekend.'

Jones knows for the Lady Miners to continue their winning ways, it is essential the girls stay on track with their system.

"We will have a tough tournament this weekend, and we will be working on various things in practice to ready," Jones said.

The next scheduled game is the East/West tournament Oct. 5-6 in Buffalo.