Williamsport posts ninth win in a row

October 11, 2005|by JACK HILL III / Staff Correspondent

SMITHSBURG - The Williamsport Wildcats' volleyball team recorded its ninth straight win by sweeping the Smithsburg Leopards on Monday night, but it wasn't easy.

No. 2 Williamsport (9-1) came out on top of No. 8 Smithsburg (7-3), 25-16, 27-25, 25-20.

"We knew that it wasn't going to be real easy," Williamsport coach Emily Crabtree said. "Smithsburg has a real nice team."

Sammi Snodderly came through with 21 digs and 14 kills, while Lea Drury contributed 33 assists and eight digs for Williamsport. Emily Malott had 18 digs and six blocks, while Ashley Plume also had 18 digs for the Wildcats. Lacie Johnson collected 11 digs and nine kills, Jessica Bennett added 11 digs and nine service points and Lauren Brown had 10 kills and six blocks for Williamsport.

"Williamsport is a very good, fundamentally sound volleyball team," Smithsburg coach Rachel Bachtell said. "They have a good serve-receive, they play good defense and they have solid hitters who are able to execute and end play. They just don't let the ball hit the floor."

Kayla Martin contributed 18 assists, while Kenzie Bowen collected 12 digs and 10 kills for Smithsburg. Casey Lowe added 11 digs and Jenny Nalley had eight kills for the Leopards.

The most comfortable game for Williamsport was the opener when it jumped out to a 14-6 lead and that set the stage for a 25-16 victory. Snodderly had the game-ending kill for the Wildcats.

"Smithsburg struggled with their passing in the first game," Crabtree said. "I think that opened the door for us and we took advantage of it."

Smithsburg built a 19-13 lead during the second game but the Wildcats outscored the Leopards 14-6 the rest of the way to pull out a tight two-point win.

"In game two, we struggled with passing and that got us in trouble," Crabtree said. "Hustle, determination and a 'don't give up' attitude helped us to get out of trouble in game two. I'm definitely proud of the way that we came back in that second game and did not give up. Teamwork was the key to the comeback. It took all six girls on the floor working together."

Williamsport was leading 22-20 in the third game when it got a point on a sideout. Johnson then got two service points and Bennett added a match-ending kill to complete the sweep for the Wildcats.

"We passed better in game three," Crabtree said. "Good passing is the key to victory for any team. If you can't get the good pass, you can't get anything after that."

"I thought that we played a good defensive game," Bachtell said. "But I think that in some key situations, we came up a little bit short. We just need to learn how to finish. I hope that we take this match as a learning experience."

The Williamsport JV team raised its record to 10-0 by sweeping Smithsburg 25-15, 25-13.

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