LYLE – The distractions of homecoming week didn’t faze the L/P volleyball team Tuesday night.

Thursday, September 28, 2000

LYLE – The distractions of homecoming week didn’t faze the L/P volleyball team Tuesday night. L/P inaugurated a brand new floor in the Lyle gym by beating the Grand Meadow Superlarks 15-3, 15-7, 15-5.

L/P has now faced everyone in the SEC West Division once and is undefeated against them, dropping only one of 16 games played. The Second time through for L/P (13-3, 5-0) begins Thursday in Lyle when Southland comes to town.

L/P whipped through game one scoring ten straight points on Laura Nelson’s serve. During the run Nelson had four ace serves, Amber Peterson had a couple of kills and Joni Sheedy also had a couple of kills and one block.

"Nelson really hurt us with her serve," Grand Meadow coach Dawn Baudoin said. "She has really matured from last year."

Nelson had seven ace serves in the game and L/P scored on 16 of her 20 serves.

Both sides had trouble with their serves at the start of game two with the first four servers all misfiring. Nelson then got things going with two ace serves to put L/P up 3-1.

"Nelson got back there again and we were in trouble," Baudoin said.

After a couple of side outs, L/P once again went in to overdrive scoring six straight points with Michelle Mino serving . Sheedy was pounding down kills at the net, a total of 10 in the game.

"When I tell her in a match that there is an empty space behind the block that you can tip to," L/P co-coach Carl Ellis said, "she responds ‘I don’t tip.’"

The L/P lead grew to 12-1 before the Superlarks knew what hit them. Grand Meadow fought back to within 13-7 with Dianna Jones, Cassie Denison, and Lisa Wolff all making some nice plays. The next time Mino served, L/P closed out the game with two straight points.

"We had a couple of moments of good play," Baudoin said, "but they are a very good team. They are well balanced with good defense and such powerful attackers. They are definitely the toughest team we have seen.

"They are tough to stop. We were always on defense, digging, digging, and digging."

Grand Meadow was on the attack for a change in game three. Twice they took lead, at 3-2 and 4-3. A nice setter tip by Annie Winfield gave the ‘Larks a side out looking to extend the lead. A wide serve then dashed their hopes. Mino, three aces in the game and 12 service points, toed the service line again and L/P ran off five straight points with Sheedy getting a kill and Cassie Fuller a pair of spikes. L/P was again in control giving Sheedy a chance to try setting the ball on one point.

"That was bad," Sheedy said of her off-target set, "I can understand why a setter can have a bad time now."

L/P’s regular setter, Amy Bickler, closed out the match with a tip. Bickler ended up with 17 set assists and Mino with eight. Fuller and Mino each had eight digs in the game.