By Spencer Spilman
The Hays High Lady Rebels made quick work of the Lehman Lady Lobos, winning in three straight games Friday night in a Hays-hosted cross-town rival game.
Hays finished off the Lady Lobos 25-11, 25-18, and 25-15 to win the rivalry match.
It was an emotional game for both teams, as a memorial speech for former Lady Lobo Gaby Montoya was given by a Lady Rebel player. Montoya died following a car accident last season. The loss affected both teams, as tears were shed from both sides, including players, coaches and fans.
Hays Head Coach Stephanie Coates knew this game was about more than just a win or a loss.
“This one is always going to be a town rivalry thing, but at the same time we celebrated a young lady tonight too, and I think that’s bigger than the game itself,” she said.
Both teams came out with a lot of intensity. Lady Rebels’ Mackenzie Coates had two huge kills early on the way to a 7-2 lead for Hays. Lehman’s Cheyenne Morgan made an incredible save, finished off with a kill from Kali Palomarez, but the Lady Lobos found themselves down 13-7 in game one.
Coates had five kills in the game to go with one block. She dominated at the net to help the Lady Rebels on their way to a 25-11 game one win.
Game two was more of a back-and-forth contest, with both teams fired up and neither willing to lose. Lady Lobos’ Morgan tallied five kills in the game. Lady Rebels’ Coates had three kills and two huge blocks, while her teammate Taylor Britton added four kills of her own. Lady Lobos’ Natalia Barajas tried to inspire her team to a comeback with a big block and a kill later at the net, but it was too-little, too-late, and the Lady Rebels took game two 25-18.
Hays’ Britton continued to dominate at the net in game three with two kills, while her teammate Kara Conn added two service aces early on in the game to take a 12-7 lead for the Lady Rebels.
Lehman’s Morgan tried to bring her team back after two big kills but the Lady Rebels were just too much for the Lady Lobos in the end.
Rebels’ Caraline Croft and Whitney Pond both had two kills each as they took control and finished off game three 25-15 to close out the match.
Lehman Coach Megan Cooper was optimistic for the future of her team, despite the loss. “I just told them, this is your year,” Shuler said.” “I have a great group of seniors, and they just want it so badly.”
The cross-town rivals will meet again on Oct. 28 at Lehman High.