Lady Griz gut it out at Skyview
Fruitland chalks up second place in tourney
By Argus Observer Sports Staff
Thursday, July 10, 2008 11:00 AM PDT
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| Fruitland’s Kylee Nawahine (middle) goes up for the kill against a Tri-Valley blocker during Thursday’s Treasure Valley Community College Volleyball Jamboree. Nawahine and the Lady Griz garnered second-place honors at the Skyview Tournament Wednesday. |
Nampa — If this week’s second- place finish was any indication of how good the Fruitland varsity volleyball team is, the rest of the Snake River Valley Conference better watch out.
The Lady Grizzlies posted an 11-3 pool play record and swatted Nampa Christian and Skyview before losing to the defending 5A state champion, Eagle Mustangs 25-20 and 25-18, in Summer League volleyball tournament play at Skyview High School in Nampa.
To think, the Grizzlies were without Kelsey Lewis, Adia Campbell and Megan Rice, who were out of the Treasure Valley on trips.
After the impressive pool play display, the Grizzlies were seeded No. 2 behind Capital and were already on their mark.
Earlier Wednesday in quarterfinal action, Fruitland battled a pesky Nampa Christian squad to a three game showdown, which saw Fruitland come away with the win and advance to the semifinals where they were up against Skyview.
Skyview and Fruitland also went to the three-game limit, with the Lady Grizzlies taking the round to advance to a championship date with the No. 16th nationally ranked Mustangs.
In the finals, Fruitland dropped down early and crept back into the contest, before the Eagle came away with the 25-20 win.
Eagle put the finishing touches on a championship with a 25-18 win.
The Lady Grizzlies, and third-year head coach Lisa O’Neil, could also hold their heads up high as they chalked up second place out of the rest of the 16 team field.
“There was some good volleyball played today. The atmosphere made it almost seem like state,” Fruitland head coach Lisa O’Neil said. “Eagle is an amazing team and an amazing program. To hang with them was such fun. It was so great to see them battle like that.”
O’Neil was very happy wit the team’s performance, but noted the standout play of twin sisters Chelsea and Sarah McGinley as well as seniors Ashley Holt and Kylee Nawahine.
“They just played as team,” O’Neil said. “They were so scrappy and we aren’t necessarily a scrappy team. We played with a lot of heart and showed some great offense. They played amazing. Ashley Holt played middle for us and stepped in and did a fantastic job. Kylee just owned those Eagle girls. She put on a blocking display like no other. Those Eagle girls jump so high and hit so hard, but Kylee would just stuff it back down on them. It was so amazing.”
The Lady Griz next travel to Kuna for a tri-match tourney against Kuna and Skyview before heading to the Mountain View tournament in Meridian starting Monday.
