’Noles spike ’Skins
Monroe Central improves overall record to 6-0By Kevin Pierson, kpierson@mariettatimes.com
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CALDWELL - After one game it appeared like the Monroe Central Lady Seminoles were going to waltz their way to an easy victory at Caldwell High School Thursday night.
Such was most definitely not the case.
Taking a 25-7 win in the first game the Lady Seminoles rallied to win the second game in extra points after trailing by as many as five and then came back from a three point deficit in the third game for a 25-7, 29-27 and 25-20 win over the Lady 'Skins.
"It was our best team play all year. We worked really well together today," said Monroe Central senior Kim Lafferre, who recorded a game high 17 points as well as 13 assists, four kills and 10 digs.
Though they took an 18 point win in the first game the match wasn't without its exciting moments.
Up 23-7 the two teams exchanged an extended volley that lasted for several minutes with both squads making incredible digs of hard hit kill attempts and saving the ball back over the net.
When the point finally ended on a kill by Monroe Central's Aleisha Guiler it drew thunderous applause from the fans, coaches and even the men in stripes.
"That was a first for me, to see a referee cheer both teams on after a rally," said Monroe Central volleyball coach Troy Baker.
Following their commanding victory in the first game the Lady 'Noles had to rebound in the second game after Caldwell took an 11-6 lead midway through.
After leading 2-1 Monroe Central didn't take the lead in the second game again until Lafferre served the Lady 'Noles to a 15-14 lead.
"I think we were aggressive. We didn't give up and we didn't lose our head," Guiler said.
The two teams traded points back and forth after a serve into the net knotted the game at 15 each. From that point on neither team held more than a one point lead until the Lady 'Noles took the two point win at 29-27.
"It was nip and tuck. It could've went either way that second game," Baker said.
With Guiler and Caldwell's Kristin Nau trading big time hits in the middle the two squads played evenly through the second and third games with Guiler recording a game high 21 kills and seven blocks and Nau picking up 15 kills.
"There's no doubt both teams have some good hitters and you saw that tonight," Baker said.
While they suffered their first loss of the season the Lady 'Skins played well and earned praise from their coach for battling the potent Monroe Central attack.
"Overall I was very pleased with the performance the girls gave tonight," said Caldwell volleyball coach Natalie Kennedy.
In the third game Caldwell jumped out to the early lead and held off the Seminoles until Monroe Central took a 10-8 lead that they never relinquished.
Trailing by four at 15-11 Caldwell closed the lead to one point at 17-16 but couldn't quite overcome the balanced attack of the Lady 'Noles.
Guiler led the team with 21 kills while Karlie Davis added seven, Justine LaFollette had five and Alex Kuhn and Lafferre each had four.
Lafferre had 17 points while Davis had nine, Kuhn recorded six, LaFollette had five and Guiler had four. Lizzy Nau and Erica Star led Caldwell with five points each while Jessica Mettler and Kristin Nau had four.
The win was Monroe Central's sixth of the year following last fall's perfect regular season campaign.
In a town known for football the Lady Seminoles are establishing themselves as a powerhouse in a different sport.
"We're kind of starting our own tradition," Lafferre said.
Monroe Central def. Caldwell 25-7, 29-27, 25-20
Monroe Central (6-0): Samantha Kilburn 2 pts 25 digs; Alex Kuhn 6 pts 3 assists 4 kills 15 digs; Meagan Schumacher 1 assist 2 kills; Kim Lafferre 17 pts 1 ace 13 assists 4 kills 10 digs; Aleisha Guiler 4 pts 1 ace 5 assists 21 kills 7 blocks 19 digs; Karlie Davis 9 pts 2 aces 2 assists 7 kills 1 block 20 digs; Justine LaFollette 5 pts 1 ace 5 kills 2 blocks 4 digs
Caldwell (2-1): Sammie Grady 1 pt 1 ace 1 assist; Erica Starr 5 pts 10 assists 7 kills; Stacey Mugrage 1 pt 1 ace; Lizzy Nau 5 pts 2 aces 2 kills 2 blocks; Jessica Mettler 4 pts 1 ace; Kristin Nau 4 pts 1 ace 7 assists 15 kills 1 block; Emily Cermak 1 assist 2 blocks
Next games: Fort Frye at Monroe Central, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday; Shenandoah at Caldwell 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
