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Howland rebounds to edge Girard
Photo
Girard’s Alasjia Dykes, right, goes up for a spike as Howland’s Kayla Manningham (3) attempts a block during a match Tuesday night a match at Howland High. Girard’s Melanie Bakes (1) and Howland’s Jessie Moore (6) watch. The Tigers outlasted the Indians in five games.
By Brandon Judeh
Howland
The Howland High volleyball team dominated, faltered and then survived in Tuesday’s opener against Girard.
After jumping out to a two-game lead (25-18, 25-21), the Tigers dropped the third and fourth sets (21-25, 20-25).
Howland then rebounded to win the fifth game, 15-8.
“I think we are going to have a lot of matches like today throughout the season,” Howland coach Amanda Lingenfelter said. “Our team is growing and will continue to grow and get better as the season goes on, it’s going to be a matter of pulling together and playing as hard as we can at all times.”
Howland junior Alycia Bailes said her adrenaline was in overdrive, especially during the final set.
“It was such an adrenaline rush out there,” Bailes said. “We worked so hard throughout the game and we didn’t want all of our hard work to go to waste.”
It was evident early that this was Howland’s first match as their rust was showing, but a 14-2 run to end the first set fixed that.
“Early on, I wasn’t really focusing on the score, I was focusing on the team and what they were doing, making sure they were moving to the ball and building their confidence,” Lingenfelter said.
As big as that rally was for the Tigers (1-0) it was just as big for Girard, (0-1) but in a different way.
“We got better as the game went on, but I honestly think it was the first game jitters,” Girard coach Phil Walters said. “At times, it seems like no lead is safe with us, but I think that has to do with our youth, as we move on through the season I think our confidence and experience will grow.”
Girard seemed to bounce back early in the second match after they jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but once again Howland stormed back.
Led by Brooke Bada’s 10 points and Melanie Bakes 31 assists, Girard grabbed the third and fourth sets.
“Right now, we have to work on a lot of things,” Walters said. “No one is playing to their potential right now, but I think you learn more from losing rather than winning and I know these girls have the ability to be great.”
Howland closed the match by scoring the final six points.
“This was a big win for us, but we need to work as a team and make sure that everyone is coming together as one,” Howland junior Christian Carr said.
Carr led the Tigers with 20 kills, 12 digs and 16 points.
Kara Rushin added 24 assists for Howland, Bailee Wolanzyk chipped in with 14 digs and Cassie Murcko added 13 kills and 14 digs.
For Girard, Taylor Bell had eight kills and six digs while Justine Palmer chipped in with five blocks.