Valley rematch comes down to the wire

The Encampment K-12 gym was filled with a raucous roar as Valley residents cheered on their favorite team: either the Encampment Lady Tigers or the Saratoga Lady Panthers.

They all had good reason to cheer as the fight for the top valley team went to five sets.

The Lady Tigers came out of the match victorious, but it wasn’t without some swipes from the Lady Panthers.

1st Set

The first set began with the Tigers and Panthers tied at 4, foreshadowing how the fifth set would play out.

Both teams have their strengths, coming down to their powerful front lines. Many of the points were earned at the net often when each team would try to block out the other. The play at the net would get so competitive that sometimes it was difficult to tell which side of the net the ball was on. Fans could hear the echoing slap of the volleyball when both teams struck it at the net, even over the cheers.

The teams would alternated points keeping the first set within 1 point until the Lady Tigers took the lead 13-9. The Lady Panthers scored 1 point to interrupt the Tigers scoring frenzy, then the Tigers scored two more. Lady Panther Sophie Diaz scored another point for the Panthers and the score was 15-11.

Diaz and Cassidy Herring teamed up to block the Tigers attempted kill by Kristie Jordan and had the Tigers scrambling to return the ball. Samantha Anderson got under the ball to set it up, but it went awry and Regin Stewart dug down to try and save the play. Pickett also tried to save the play, but the point went to Saratoga because of an error.

In the next play, Pickett once again attempted to get a kill past the Saratoga defense and Diaz blocked it. The Tigers could not recover from the block and the score tightened to 15-13.

Jordan was successful in getting the ball past the Saratoga defense and scored another point for 16-13.

Tigers Head Coach Janice Peterson was encouraging the team from the sidelines, prompting the Tigers to get a 3-point lead before Saratoga’s Diaz blocked another attempted kill and the score was at 18-14.

The teams would trade points with each player showing off their ability. Maggie Elder blocked an attempted kill earning another point for Saratoga. With the score at 19-15, a very long volley took place with the girls returning the ball to their opponents before Savannah Fagan and Kyenna Jackson blocked the ball leaving the score 20-15.

Addie Collins hit a kill and scored another point for Saratoga, followed by a kill by Elder.The Saratoga Lady Panthers closed the score by 2 points 20-18. The Tigers scored 2 more points before Saratoga’s Collins hit another kill and the score was 22-19. Diaz and Pickett battled it out at the net with the Panthers scoring 1 point and the Tigers scoring 2 points. The Tigers needed 1 point to win the set and were successful, ending it 25-20.

2nd Set

The second set started with intensity as the Panthers scored the first point followed by a spirited volley. Both teams were quick on their feet during the volley, and the Tigers tied the score 1-1.

The Tigers went on a scoring spree and scored 9 more points before the Panthers were able to answer with a kill by Herring. Not to be deterred, the Tigers continued to score after several volleys while Saratoga struggled. By this time, the Tigers had a 10-point lead 14-4.

The Panthers shook off the lead and gave the Tigers a workout. When a timeout was called the score was 15-8.

The Panthers have several secret weapons - one is their serving record. They are very good at placing their serves and are consistent in getting the ball over the net. The other is their Libero, Madi Johnson, who can dig for almost anything that comes her way. It took those forces working together that allowed the Panthers to catch up the score 16-12 before a timeout was called.

Despite the Panthers determination, they could not catch up to the Tigers and the score was soon 20-15. The Panthers could not compete with the Tigers quick thinking and the end score was 25-15.

3rd Set

Just as one thought the match would be over, the Lady Panthers got a second wind and started out scoring the Lady Tigers after a tie of 4-4. For the first time in the match, the Panthers had the lead and they showed no mercy against the Tigers. Despite closing in on the score, the Tigers could not get ahead of the Panthers and soon the score was 8-12.

The Panthers capitalized on the lead, with Saratoga Panthers Head Coach Shayley Love encouraging them from the side lines, and soon had a 6-point lead with the score 9-15.

Buzzed by adrenaline, the Panthers continued to outscore the Tigers with kills by Josie Little and Collins. Little was fired up and celebrated every kill with her teammates. The Panthers now had a 11-point lead on the Tigers, 11-22. With the score at 12-24, Allie Condict came in behind the Panthers front line, who missed a block, and scored the winning point for the Panthers 12-25. Condict was rewarded with hugs by her teammates.

4th Set

The Panthers continued their winning streak in the fourth set by scoring 3 points before the Tigers got on the board.

It didn’t take long for the Tigers to shake off their loss and tie the game at 4 points and then take the lead 6-4. The Panthers weren’t going to take the lead laying down and tied the score at 7. Jackson hit the ball over the Panthers defense, and Johnson went to the floor to get a dig, but came up short and the score was 8-7.

The Panthers tied the score again and Collins hit a kill to score another point for the Panthers. The battle at the net had begun and each team would attempt a kill keeping the score tied. The last tie was at 13-13 when the Panthers started to pick up their game and took a 6-point lead before the Tigers were able to score again.The score was 15-20 and the Panthers continued their scoring streak. Encampment got in 2 more points, but the gap was now 17-23. The Tigers got in 1 more point before succumbing to Saratoga, 18-25.

5th Set

Much like the first set, the final set in the match was a tied game and it was a contest of who wanted the win more. The score was 10-9 when a timeout was called. The next few plays would be crucial as the fifth match only goes to 15 points, and at this point in the game, it was anyone’s guess who would come out ahead.

Many times, it can be the inspiration the team gets from their coach during the timeout. At this point, the cheers were coming out of the fans in the stands screaming out chants to encourage their team and they were loud.

The score was tied at 11 when another timeout was called. Neither team was letting up.

The Tigers scored 2 points to lead 13-11 when the Panthers went in for a kill. As Pickett went in for the block, the ball hit the Panthers side of the net and the Tigers were within 1 point for a win. The Panthers interrupted that with a point and then another, tying the score 14-14.

Jackson scored the next 2 points to win the game 16-14 for Encampment.

The Encampment Lady Tigers’ final game before regionals in Lander is tonight in Rock River at 5 p.m.

The Saratoga Lady Panthers host the Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) Lady Rattlers tonight at 4:30 p.m. and the Farson-Eden Lady Pronghorns at 10 a.m. on Saturday.