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Lakeview volleyball teams get the best of rival Hubbard
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Emily Perry (23) and Kaitlyn Evans (12) of Hubbard make a play on the ball Monday evening in Hubbard. The Eagles won the third set, 30-28, but fell in the fourth.
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Hubbard’s Taylor Greathouse (10) and Lakeview’s Marissa Naples battle at the net Monday evening in Hubbard. The Bulldogs defeated the Eagles in four sets.
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(11) Maris Sarisky of Hubbard goes up for the spike as (9) Calli Schmitt tries for the block Monday evening.
By Matthew Peaslee
Hubbard
Before every match the Lakeview volleyball team performs what they call their “raindance.” The girls huddle up, rock side-to-side and wave their arms in the air while letting out a loud cheer.
The tradition slipped their minds on Monday.
They finally remembered that it fell by the wayside at the start, so they huddled up and did it prior to the fourth set against Hubbard.
Better late than never.
Instead of precipitation in the Hubbard High School gymnasium, the raindance brought the Bulldogs a nailbiting 29-27 win in the set to defeat the Eagles, three games to one.
Is the cheer really that powerful? Maybe.
“We cheer all the time,” senior Rachel Rubadiri said. “During games, like you saw tonight, every practice, when we get water, when we stretch. We’re just always cheering.”
Lakeview (8-1) sure had a lot to make noise about in its first two sets. The Bulldogs jumped out early to a dominating 25-13 set to open the match and followed with a 25-20 victory. Calli Schmitt had 11 kills, Erin Kelligher had 27 digs and Caitlin McDiviti had 42 assists. But Rubadiri, who had nine kills playing the net, stole the show.
“Rachel had a coming-out game today,” said Lakeview coach Scott Taylor. “She’s been very consistent for us all year, but she basically took control tonight.”
Two of her kills came at a crucial time in the fourth set. At a time when the Eagles (2-6) had momentum trying to win the set, Rubadiri spiked the 22nd and 24th point home. This game, more so this season as a whole, has been exceptionally big for Rubadiri. She broke her foot two track seasons ago forcing her to miss the entirety of last year’s volleyball schedule. Her comeback has been an inspiration to the team.
“It’s just hard work and dedication,” Rubadiri said. “I really wanted to come back hard and have a good year and tonight really helped. It’s an honor to be playing with these girls and it’s great that they’ve accepted me back.”
Lakeview and Hubbard have established one of the fiercest volleyball rivalries in the area. Hubbard coach Chuck Montgomery has been at the helm for 20 years, while Taylor has led the Bulldogs for 18.
“We love the rivalry,” Montgomery said. “The last two games were indicative of how things have gone over the last 15-20 years.”
The Eagles notched a win in the third set after a 6-1 lead. Calling their two designated timeouts in that game settled Hubbard down, but the intensity made sure they would hold onto a 30-28 victory as the overtime session was nearly even for both sides. Montgomery said that the two teams have different styles of play.
His squad played tough to force overtime again in the last set, but it just wasn’t enough to force it to a fifth.
“I think if we did [go to a fifth set], we may have come out on top,” Montgomery, who is in his 40th overall year of coaching volleyball, said.
“Our peskiness, grittiness and defensiveness were standing out in the last two games while his power stood out in the first couple games.”
Taylor said his team may have “had a case of the nerves” at the end, but that’s just a classic Hubbard-Lakeview bout.
“It doesn’t matter who’s up front or who’s trailing they always seem to come down to the end.”
Hubbard’s Marquette Gasser gave the Eagles 17 points, while Maris Saisky had 18 kills and Emily Perry had two aces.