Rebels crash Austin’s party
Published 11:33 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Southland's Celina Yunker attempts tipping the ball past the block of Austin's Jocelyn Sheehan during game two Tuesday night in Packer Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
On a night where they were probably playing their best volleyball of the season, things took a horrible turn for the worse and the Packers were left standing with a five-game loss to Southland on senior night and a loss of one of their senior captains in Packer Gym Tuesday.
Austin’s Taylor Lady had just spiked down a kill to cap a four-point Austin run to tie the fifth and deciding game at eight against Southland, when it struck.
Austin's Haley Underwood goes up for a spike against Southland in game one of their match Tuesday night in Packer Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
On the next volley, Austin senior Haley Underwood, who had 10 kills in the match, collided with her teammate Babaye Oja, who had eight kills, as the two hustled for a loose ball and then she saw her season likely come to an end with an MCL injury she sustained on the play, according to Austin head coach Barry Brobeck.
“She’s a captain and a spark plug,” Brobeck said. “This will be a really tough loss, but she’ll come to practice and she’ll be cheering us on.”
The Rebels ended up winning the match by scores of 22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 15-11.
Southland (13-11 overall) responded quickly in the deciding game as Celina Yunker hammered down a kill to start her five-point serving run that closed out the final game.
“I was kind of nervous, but every serve counts and you’ve just got to focus on getting them all over. It doesn’t matter if it’s the game point or the first serve, you’ve just got to get them over,” said Yunker, who had 10 kills and 15 digs. “We knew we could get them. We would’ve liked to get it in three, but at least we got it.”
Austin (3-13 overall) looked to be headed for a win in game four after it took a 23-18 lead, but Southland senior Madi Schmitz took control as she served the last six points to keep her team from losing.
“We just dug deep and took it to them,” said Schmitz, who also had a kill during the run. “We’re starting to connect more and play a lot better with each other. We get a long well.”
Southland's Elizabeth May tips a kill down during game two against Austin Tuesday night in Packer Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin closed out the third game when Jenna Svoboda served three straight points —including an ace on the 25th point. In the first game, Underwood served an ace to make it 23-20.
Austin's Jocelyn Sheehan receives a serve during game three of their match against Southland Tuesday night at Packer Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Things just didn’t go Austin’s way in the fourth or fifth games.
“This is the first time we’ve played in a game five and to go this far is growth, but we lost our focus and Southland didn’t,” Brobeck said. “That’s no excuse and we’ve got to get back at it.”
Brobeck said that junior hitter Kathryn Allen will take over at outside hitter for Austin.
Austin stats: Jenna Svoboda, 25 assists, 3 kills, 90 percent serving, 4 aces; Marwa Omot, 100 percent serving, 3 aces; Haley Underwood, 10 kills, 3 aces; Taylor Lady, 9 kills; Babaye Oja, 8 kills, 6 digs
Southland stats: Madi Schmitz, 12 assists, 4 kills, 1 block, 11 digs, 2 aces; Lindsey Bottema, 10 assists, 7 digs, 2 aces; Kellie Shawback, 8 kills, 2 blocks; Jana Schammel, 4 kills, 3 blocks, 6 digs; Celina Yunker, 10 kills, 1 block, 15 digs, 2 aces; Elizabeth May, 2 kills, 1 block, 3 digs; Haley Kirkpatrick, 2 kills; Kelli Smith, 2 kills, 11 digs; Hillary Bottema, 2 blocks; Kelly Gray, 7 digs
