NHS volleyball now in command of SWC

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

Riding a vaunted defense that included a flurry of blocks and at least 10 digs from each of the six starters, the Nevada Lady Tiger volleyball team entrenched itself in first place in the Southwest Conference with a three-game victory at Webb City Thursday.

Nevada won 25-22, 18-25, 25-22, exorcising the Cardinal demons and putting themselves in great position to bring home the conference crown.

"It was awesome," Nevada head coach Trudy Fleeman said.

Fleeman's squad was solid at the net and on the back line. Brittany Crockett led the team with nine blocks, and Ashleigh Bryson had seven. Bryson also led the team with 14 digs.

"Blocking was a big part of (winning)," Fleeman said. "Because they have good hitters.

"With Brittany and Ashleigh, they do a good job blocking and it helps out our back row."

Nevada and Webb City were back and forth in the first and third games. The Lady Cardinals took the second game when Nevada had a temporary lapse in the passing department.

"With a team like (Webb City), you can never let up," Fleeman said.

The Lady Tigers (11-1 overall, 5-0 in the conference) are now the clear cut favorites in the conference, holding a two-match lead in the loss column over the second-place Lady Cardinals (14-8, 2-2).

Webb City has also lost a conference match to Neosho this season.

The two teams will meet again Tuesday at Wynn Gymnasium, as the Lady Tigers can clinch the conference title outright with a victory over the Lady Cardinals.

The match will also be the first held in the gym by the varsity since the floor was repaired after water damage. The Lady Tigers haven't played in the gym since Aug. 31 against Harrisonville.

Nevada has three conference matches left. They host Webb City Tuesday, visit McDonald County Thursday and the following week host Neosho.

Fleeman said the victory Thursday sent the team into an ecstatic frenzy.

"We've been working really hard for it and they deserved it," Fleeman said.