Lopez’s volleyball team dominates Grace Academy and Providence Christian

On Tuesday, Sept. 30 the Lopez volleyball team hammered its opponent into submission, winning three of three games for the match at Grace Academy. The score was 25/15 Lopez, 26/24 Lopez, 25/19 Lopez. Coach Mellonnie Altona was able to play her entire team and the young women all got playing experience that day in Arlington. Coach Altona remarked, “Erin Wilbur’s poise was remarkable in how she took charge of situations on the court after I rotated out some of the more seasoned players. And Sarah Stanley had her first jump serve against Grace. The whole team played with confidence.” In other stats, Gwenna Coiley attacked the ball 13 times and had four kills, Emily PostVanderBurg attacked ten times with six kills at the net, Hanifah McGovern attacked 11 times and had three kills, Sarah Stanley attacked seven times with six kills, Erin Wilbur attacked nine times with three kills, Marina Steinbrueck attacked one time, Malisha Burson attacked several times and had four kills at the net and Helen O’Brien attacked one time with one kill.

October 8, 2008 12:00 am

On Tuesday, Sept. 30 the Lopez volleyball team hammered its opponent into submission, winning three of three games for the match at Grace Academy. The score was 25/15 Lopez, 26/24 Lopez, 25/19 Lopez. Coach Mellonnie Altona was able to play her entire team and the young women all got playing experience that day in Arlington. Coach Altona remarked, “Erin Wilbur’s poise was remarkable in how she took charge of situations on the court after I rotated out some of the more seasoned players. And Sarah Stanley had her first jump serve against Grace. The whole team played with confidence.” In other stats, Gwenna Coiley attacked the ball 13 times and had four kills, Emily PostVanderBurg attacked ten times with six kills at the net, Hanifah McGovern attacked 11 times and had three kills, Sarah Stanley attacked seven times with six kills, Erin Wilbur attacked nine times with three kills, Marina Steinbrueck attacked one time, Malisha Burson attacked several times and had four kills at the net and Helen O’Brien attacked one time with one kill.

The volleyball team played again on Friday, Oct. 3, in a home game against Providence Christian to an almost packed house. Tension ran high as momentum built on one side of the net as the Lobos slammed ace after ace down Providence’ throat, only to have the opposing team hit seemingly unreturnable vollies back into Lobos territory. The games were nail-biters, and filled with great plays on both sides of the net. However, the Lobos won in a five game match 25/23 Lopez, 21/25 Providence, 25/13 Lopez, 19/24 Providence, and 15/08 Lopez. Lopez won the match overall.

Altona said, “Mentally, the team was very prepared for Providence; Providence lacked experience, but they have several powerhouse players. My players were 100 percent at their serves, missing only three serves overall. Malisha Burson really came through playing every single position she found herself in. The young women punched through their mistakes and really shook it off. They fought hard for those five games and the game points proved it.”

Emily PostVanderBurg had nine blocks at the net,12 kills, and attacked the ball 43 times, as well as knocking three aces over the net and going 16/19 on serves. Hanifah McGovern had one block, attacked nine times, and her serves were 18/20. Gwenna Coiley attacked the ball 16 times and served 100%, while Erin Wilbur had three kills, attacked 12 times, and garnered three aces during her serving rotation. Sarah Stanley had three kills, attacked the ball 14 times and had two aces and Marina Steinbrueck attacked 14 times, Lily Ewert had one kill and Helen O’Brien had 100 percent on all her serves.

The Lopez volleyball team plays Marysville at Lopez on Friday, Oct. 10 at 2:00 pm.