Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Glenvar can't overcome injury to middle hitter
The Highlanders lose junior Liz Trinchere to a sprained ankle and are eliminated by Gate City
GATE CITY, Va. — For a moment, it appeared a trying event would propel Glenvar to the Group A volleyball state semifinals.
Down two games to one at Gate City and behind 14-12 in the fourth game, the Highlanders lost arguably their best player to a sprained ankle, 5-foot-11 middle hitter Liz Trinchere.
In came Julie Helton, a 5-8 outside hitter who would have to play out of position and replace a player who had recorded 18 kills to that point.
“[Helton] hadn’t played the middle all year and had three blocks right away,” Glenvar coach Mark Rohrback said.
Sparked by their fallen teammate, Glenvar immediately rallied for four straight points and seven of the last 10 to win the fourth game, 25-21.
Despite the Highlanders taking the first two points of the final game, the Blue Devils continued their dynasty by taking the next four points and seven of the last eight to advance to the Group A semifinals in Richmond with a Game 5 win and a match victory of 25-23, 16-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-7.
“It was a great match; two great teams going at it,” said Gate City coach Amy Reed. “We made fewer mistakes than they did. In the fifth game it was about playing smart.”
The turning point of the fifth game came with the score tied at four.
Gate City outside hitter Jennifer Lewis returned a volley that Glenvar outside hitter Casey Moore couldn’t handle in the right middle of the court.
The Highlanders seemed a bit out of sync after that point, allowing four straight points to fall behind 8-4.
“We were ready to play because they beat us so bad last year,” said Gate City junior setter Chelsea Spivey.
Glenvar defeated the Blue Devils in the 2006 state championship, breaking Gate City’s string of two consecutive Group A volleyball titles.
“Each year, we keep pushing and developing players,” Reed said.
“The players have a passion for the sport. We don’t quit.”
Kelley Knoebel had 25 kills and six blocks for the Highlanders, while Meredith Buckley added 19 saves, seven aces and 23 digs.
Ashley Owen also contributed with 44 assists and 6 blocks.
Through her tears of pain and defeat, Trinchere, a junior and likely college prospect next season, found a silver lining.
“I was so proud of them to come back and win. The whole lineup changes but the subs played as well as anyone.”
Rohrback agreed with her fallen star.
“I told them it is incredible that we’ve built our team to where we can lose our best player and still compete with the best.”
Down two games to one at Gate City and behind 14-12 in the fourth game, the Highlanders lost arguably their best player to a sprained ankle, 5-foot-11 middle hitter Liz Trinchere.
In came Julie Helton, a 5-8 outside hitter who would have to play out of position and replace a player who had recorded 18 kills to that point.
“[Helton] hadn’t played the middle all year and had three blocks right away,” Glenvar coach Mark Rohrback said.
Sparked by their fallen teammate, Glenvar immediately rallied for four straight points and seven of the last 10 to win the fourth game, 25-21.
Despite the Highlanders taking the first two points of the final game, the Blue Devils continued their dynasty by taking the next four points and seven of the last eight to advance to the Group A semifinals in Richmond with a Game 5 win and a match victory of 25-23, 16-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-7.
“It was a great match; two great teams going at it,” said Gate City coach Amy Reed. “We made fewer mistakes than they did. In the fifth game it was about playing smart.”
The turning point of the fifth game came with the score tied at four.
Gate City outside hitter Jennifer Lewis returned a volley that Glenvar outside hitter Casey Moore couldn’t handle in the right middle of the court.
The Highlanders seemed a bit out of sync after that point, allowing four straight points to fall behind 8-4.
“We were ready to play because they beat us so bad last year,” said Gate City junior setter Chelsea Spivey.
Glenvar defeated the Blue Devils in the 2006 state championship, breaking Gate City’s string of two consecutive Group A volleyball titles.
“Each year, we keep pushing and developing players,” Reed said.
“The players have a passion for the sport. We don’t quit.”
Kelley Knoebel had 25 kills and six blocks for the Highlanders, while Meredith Buckley added 19 saves, seven aces and 23 digs.
Ashley Owen also contributed with 44 assists and 6 blocks.
Through her tears of pain and defeat, Trinchere, a junior and likely college prospect next season, found a silver lining.
“I was so proud of them to come back and win. The whole lineup changes but the subs played as well as anyone.”
Rohrback agreed with her fallen star.
“I told them it is incredible that we’ve built our team to where we can lose our best player and still compete with the best.”
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