HEM netters take second

In the beginning of the season, Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School volleyball team set a goal they ended up achieving and going beyond.

The beyond was going to the State finals.

HEM head volleyball coach Jackie Jones said she had an inkling early that the Lady Miners were going to be a contender this year.

"After State last year, I could tell the girls were not just satisfied with making it to just State," Jones said. "In knowing that, I knew the schedule was going to be fairly rigorous, but we had teams on our schedule we knew we could have confidence going into them."

She said the Lady Miners played outside the 1A division to get experience in facing strong teams.

"We also knew in our own county there are some quality volleyball teams that would be tough, so during the course of the season, as we played these great teams, we went through an evolution in the course of the season changing roles of some of the girls," Jones said. "Early on, I saw Amy Campbell should no longer be a middle hitter and she needed to move to the outside which proved to be one of my better coaching points of the season."

Jones said over the volleyball season the team not only learned from their wins, but also from their losses.

"We had some tough losses where sometimes the team just rolled over us or we had games that went to five and you lose the last set by 2," Jones said. "I think the cumulation of what happened with us is the past two weeks with Regionals and State is a testament to how well these girls came together, no matter who was on court, no matter who was at practice, they knew what they wanted their end result to be."

Jones said taking second place was not a thought when they went into State.

"I am in a state still that taking second seems surreal," Jones said. "Still, when I look back at the girls with all their hard work, their dedication to teamwork, it becomes very real for me."

The Lady Miners first faced Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) on Thursday who were ranked 2nd in the 1A West. HEM was ranked 3rd in the 1A East. The Lady Miners won 25-23, 25-15. 25-15.

"Matching up with LSRV, we had them early in the season at the 1A Jamboree tournament and we played very well against them even though we hadn't seen them for a couple years, but we knew they had a hot tournament over in the West and to come out second in that conference is quite an accomplishment," Jones said. "We knew we were going to have to be at our best to get past the first round against them, which was our ultimate goal."

She said the girls knew if the team got past the first round, they would get to play on Saturday with a chance at a trophy.

This was the goal the team had set at the beginning of the season.

"They went to state and won a game; goal met," Jones said. "We are a team that is goal driven, so meeting that goal meant having to have another."

The Lady Miners faced Kaycee on Saturday.

"We faced them three times this year and split once and Kaycee got the best of us the other two times," Jones said. "So before the game, I told the girls, we know what Kaycee has and we know what we can do. We have to focus on us and let the pieces fall into place."

The pieces did fall for the Lady Miners. They won the match in four games, 25-14, 25-21, 20-25, 25-9.

"The first game we were up 5-0 and I got this feeling telling me 'we are going to do this,'" Jones said. "After losing the 3rd set, the girls came out and just got all over Kaycee and at point 20, I sort of passed out a little and I was beyond what you would call excited and when it was 23, tears started falling because I knew what was going to happen with this group of girls."

She said going into the championship, HEM knew what sort of team they were facing.

"Cokeville was a powerhouse and they beat teams like Evanston that placed 3rd in 4A," Jones said. "This is not making excuses and my hat is off to the Cokeville Panthers because they are a quality, quality team."

In the beginning when we faced them, we were a little shell shocked," Jones said. "I got them together and said 20 other 1A teams would love to be in their positions, so I said enjoy the moment and walk out with pride and skills that got you here."

Although the Lady Panthers came out on top 25-11, 25-6, 25-11, Jones said every girl on the Lady Miner team came off the court with a smile.

The head coach was impressed with how many fans cheered on the Lady Miners at the tournament.

"It was wonderful to see all the people supporting this group of girls," Jones said. "It really meant something to us."

She said her pride in the Lady Miners can't really be put into words because all the girls came together because they believed in themselves as a team.

"The Lady Miners are about team," Jones said. "I have never been around a group of girls who exemplify the word team better."

She said whether a member of the team was on the bench or the court, all have roles.

"From the star player to the girl on the bench or manager, it was a total team effort," Jones said. "It was why we got as far as we did this season."

This is the first time a girls team from HEM has ever gone to the championships for any sport.