Lebo moves to semis
Randy Gonzales, Hays Daily News
Saturday, October 31, 2009
HAYS — Coach Gina Peek said her Lebo High School volleyball team wasn’t at its best in Friday’s pool play of the Class 2A state tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum. But the second-seeded Wolves still advanced to today’s semifinals, where they will meet No. 1 seed Oberlin.
Lebo (37-5) started slow against Oskaloosa in the first match of the day, but won 25-22, 25-17.
Peek said it was important to win that first match.
“Huge for us,” she said. “Gave us some breathing room.”
The Wolves needed it after losing to Moundridge in three games, 26-24, 21-25, 25-15.
Lebo then needed to win its last match against Uniontown to secure a berth in the semifinals. Lebo won the first game 26-24, but lost the second, 22-25. Lebo won the decisive third game 25-14 to make the 2 p.m. semis against Oberlin (39-1).
“We just had to play a little bit smarter” in the third game, Peek said.
Lebo trailed 7-1 in the first game against Oskaloosa when Peek called a timeout.
“We’re slow starters,” Peek said. “I said we were glad we were playing in the afternoon this year (in 2A). It felt like it was 8 o’clock in the morning,”
In the timeout, “I just said get settled down,” Peek said.
It worked, as the Wolves went on a 12-5 run to take their first lead at 13-12. Oskaloosa got the next point to tie it at 13, but Lebo led by four points before the Bears tied the score again at 22.
The Wolves won the final three points, the last coming on a service ace.
Peek took comfort in her team’s uneven play on the first day, saying better things were to come today.
“I’m encouraged we didn’t play particularly well,” Friday, Peek said. “We survived.
“Historically, we’ll be pretty good (Saturday).”
Oberlin went 3-0 Friday against Salina-Sacred Heart (25-12, 25-22), Blue Rapids-Valley Heights (25-20, 24-26, 25-22) and Spearville (25-21, 25-13). The Red Devils have yet to lose to a team from Kansas this season.
In the other semifinal, Moundridge will play Valley Heights.
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