Sports
Ace Nation: Lancers grab three-set statement win over the Tomcats on senior night
By: Trenton Nickels
Posted on:
STEWART, Ohio (WOUB) —The Federal Hocking Lancers defeated the Trimble Tomcats in their regular season finale on Thursday night. Before the game even started the crowd was rumbling with excitement for the Lancers’ seniors.
To start the game both teams struggled with finishing points and playing as a team. This all changed when Bailey Tomlin got a block to awaken the court, making the score four to six. With Audree Chapman leading the helm, The Lancers scored ten consecutive points. This brought the score to sixteen to eight. Despite the deficit The Tomcats were not about to give up. While down 21 to 13, Alyvia Portier took charge with a ground-shaking kill. And with the help of McKenzie Eing’s three straight aces the Tomcats were now only down 23 to 21. Unfortunately, for the Tomcats it was too little too late. Chapman finished the set 25 to 21 with an Ace.
With The Lancers riding the high of the previous set they came out swinging. Karlee Grim picked up a pair of aces making it nine to four. After this, Trimble’s Macy Vore decided it was her turn to contribute with two kills of her own, bringing the score back within reach. Despite the constant hustle, Federal Hocking was too much to handle with an unremarkable block by Grimm turning the tide back in their favor 20 to 12. Having Trimble on the ropes Markala Goeglein delivered a kill in the corner of the court, ending the set 25 to 20.
Beginning the third set the Lancers jumped out of the gates, eight to zero. Abby Henry took charge with a pair of kills and Portier with two aces. Regardless of Federal Hocking’s lead, The Tomcats were relentless and crawled their way back into the game. Leading the way was Tomlin, making several great defensive plays and hyping up her teammates with a kill. Tomlins’ effort brought the Tomcats lead back twelve to eight. After this Goeglein went on an absolute tear with three kills leading her team to their final victory of the regular season, 25 to 17.
Head Coach Ryan Grimm was emotional when talking about the senior girls “You see the way they lead the underclassmen girls, they will be missed for sure.”
When Markala Goeglein was asked about the season she said “In the beginning you could see we weren’t a team, but we are definitely a family now, not just a team”
With this ending the regular season it’s now tournament time. Federal Hocking plans to keep the ball rolling at their tournament game this Tuesday at home against Belpre.
While the Trimble Tomcats are looking for a rebound as they host South Gallia on Tuesday as well.