Setting the pace: Bollingberg hits milestone as LP moves on
Published 9:10 pm Monday, October 22, 2018
- Lucy Nelson goes up for a hit against Christian Life Academy in Pacelli Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
An individual milestone helped give the Lyle-Pacelli volleyball team some big momentum early on as the No. 8 seeded Athletics swept No. 9 Christian Life Academy (15-11 overall) by scores of 25-7, 25-12, 25-8 in a Section 1A West tournament opener in Pacelli Gym Monday.
LP senior Abby Bollingberg, who had six ace serves and 25 set assists, picked up her 1,000th career set assist in the first game and her accomplishment comes just a week after LP senior Faith King, who had nine digs Monday, picked up her 1,000th career dig.

Lyle-Pacelli’s Abby Bollingberg sets against Christian Life Academy in Pacelli Monday. Bollingberg picked up her 1,000th career set in the win for the Athletics. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
LP head coach Tammy Truckenmiller said both of those landmarks have helped the Athletics (10-15 overall) find their footing just in time for the postseason.
“We might have had an up and down season, but it was so nice for those girls to reach that in their senior year and it’s getting the team motivated,” Truckenmiller said. “This is like a whole new season for us. We’re dialed in and we’re ready to take the next step.”
Bollingberg is usually quick to credit LP’s hitters when she has a good night, so she felt a little out of place in the spotlight when the match was stopped to recognize her career accomplishment.

Lyle-Pacelli’s Faith King makes a play on the ball for agaisnt Christian Life Academy in a Section 1A West tournament match in Pacelli Monday. King recently recorded her 1,000th career dig for the Athletics. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“It’s not really a recognized job to be a setter,” Bollingberg said. “It’s about getting sets for my hitters to my hitters to make sure they can get kills. I’ve been getting amazing digs from my libero [King] too.”
King said she’s never really thought about her own numbers. She’s mostly concerned with helping the Athletics stay competitive.

Abby Neve makes a play on the ball for Lyle-Pacelli in Pacelli Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“It didn’t really matter as much for me,” King said. “I just wanted to get [1,000 digs] because I want to work hard for my team. Everything I did was for my team and it was kind of cool to have that recognition with it. I did my job and I did what I’m supposed to do as a libero.”
LP jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first game and it cruised from that point on. The Athletics will advance and play at top-seeded Medford at 7 p.m. Thursday.
“The energy was awesome tonight and I hope we can keep it rolling for Medford,” King said. “Hopefully we can get the big upset.”

Lyle-Pacelli’s Olivia Christianson goes up for a hit agaisnt Christian Life Academy in Pacelli Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
LP stats: Faith King, 9 digs, 1 ace serve; Americano Garcia, 1 kill, 1 block; Lucy Nelson, 13 kills, 2 aces, 6 digs; Olivia Christianson, 10 kills, 3 ace serves, 2 blocks, 6 digs; Abby Neve, 2 kills, 2 set assists, 3 ace serves, 3 blocks, 2 digs; Abby Bollingberg, 1 kill, 25 set assists, 6 ace serves, 1 block, 6 digs; Vanessa Cotter, 3 ace serves, 4 digs; Whitney Walkup, 1 kill, 1 block

Lyle-Pacelli’s Abby Bollingberg hugs her mom Faye after recording her 1,000th career set assist in Pacelli Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com