While it wasn’t always easy Tuesday, the Hays Rebels escaped with a hard-fought 3-2 win against the Lake Travis Cavaliers Bales Gym.
The Rebels went on a commanding lead in the first set taking a win against the Cavaliers 25-14. Senior Kaitlyn Krafka led her team in points, and dominated both offensively and defensively.
In the beginning of the first set, Krafka went on a six-point run serving for the Rebels. With the help of sophomore Ryann Torres in assists, the Rebels dominated the first set.
In the second set, the Rebels took control of the game winning 25-14. Lake Travis began to wake up offensively and went on numerous runs against the Rebels.
However, Lake Travis could not keep up as Hays took the second set.
The Cavaliers acquired momentum in the third set as they began attacking more. Errors on the Rebel side allowed the Cavaliers to take advantage.
This was the first set where Lake Travis held a lead on Hays in the match. Once they had the lead, they kept it.
With the set at 19-18, Lake Travis capitalized on defensive errors and ultimately won the set.
“We just weren’t playing as hard as we were, we slowed down the tempo and everything,” Krafka said. “Passes were high, sets were high and they were able to adjust to that. We just weren’t working as hard.”
Even leading in kills with 30 for the night, Krafka and her team began to slow down and made more mistakes than anticipated in the match.
Lake Travis took advantage of Rebel miscommunication to win the fourth set 25-20.
The Cavs maintained momentum to start the fifth set, but both teams were dominant defensively.
Tied at 2-2, the Rebels stepped up in the clutch to take the win at 15-12.
Torres tallied 21 digs for the night and finished with 47 assists in the match.
“We just talked all the way through set three, four and five about being disciplined to what we knew we needed to do,” Stephanie Coates, head volleyball coach, said. “Moving quick, staying ahead of the ball, talking to each other and playing for each other, I think they did a great job on the stretch.”
