Hays’ Kelsea Sadler pounds a kill attempt into the block of Lehman’s Ariana Gallegos (left) and Karina Lujan during the Lady Rebels’ three-game sweep over the Lady Lobos last Friday night at Bales Gym. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
The Lehman High volleyball team entered Bales Gym Friday night with the same goal the Lobo football did a few hundred yards away – knock off the Rebels for the first time in school history.
Late in the first game of the matchup between the Lady Lobos and Lady Rebs, it looked as if Lehman would have a good chance to do exactly that.
But Hays High, paced by the powerful right arm of Sydney Paradeaux and Emily Clark’s near-perfect attack percentage, eventually wore down the Lady Lobos in a 25-21, 25-18, 25-8 victory.
The win moves Hays to 2-2 in District 27-4A action while the much-improved Lehman team fell to 2-2.
“They really came out and pushed us early,” Hays head coach Erica Walther said. “They are a well coached team that is very hungry for success this season and it shows with the way they play on the court. We really started to find our rhythm in game two. I’m proud of the way the girls battled throughout the entire match.”
Paradeaux led Hays with 15 kills, and Clark had an amazing 10 kills in only 11 attack attempts – a .909 attack percentage.
“Anything above a .400 attack percentage is amazing,” Walther said. “To finish at .909 like Clark did is phenomenal.”
Kaylea Beck finished with eight kills and eight digs, and Hannah Ramsey had 30 assists for the Lady Rebels.
Ariana Gallegos led Lehman with six kills and three blocks, and Vikki Smith led the Lady Lobos with 12 assists.
“We lost because of mistakes and errors,” Vikki Smith said. “I expect a different outcome when we play them at home. We always play better there because we have our classmates supporting us.”
Smith’s twin sister Alex, a fellow Lehman senior starter, agrees.
“We should have won game one, and we just fell apart in game three,” said Alex Smith, who led Lehman with 13 digs. “Next time that won’t happen.”
Hays senior Kelsea Sadler said the victory over Lehman was much needed for the Lady Rebels.
“Hopefully we can draw the energy from Friday night’s game for the rest of the district season,” Sadler said. “We want to be able to use this as a boost as we continue our path toward the playoffs.”
Hays will host state-ranked Alamo Heights in another key district matchup Friday night beginning at 6:30 p.m. Lehman plays at state-ranked Canyon Friday in a match also scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Getting closer
• Lehman volleyball team will be ready for Hays when the two face off next month.
• The Lady Lobos are still in search of their first-ever varsity volleyball win over Lady Rebs.
