By DONN ADAMSON\Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Thursday, October 27, 2005
Updated: Thursday, October 27, 2005 11:27 AM CDT

HILLSBORO - The Three Rivers Lady Raiders wanted nothing better than to hand the Mineral Area College Lady Cardinals at least one loss out of the five times they had played this season, and they gave it a great try.

In the conference finale on Wednesday, the Lady Raiders took off from the first serve to post a two-game advantage, but Mineral Area fought back to win the five game match 26-30, 28-30, 30-25, 30-22, 15-12.

“I didn't like the first two games,” said Mineral Area coach Tim Cropland. “If we work hard on defense, we can win those games. Defense turned the match around. Tonight.”

The Lady Cardinals found the Three Rivers' attacks a little too hard to handle in the first two games, despite having a good attack game of their own. The two teams played even ball though point 16, but in each game the Lady Raiders would pull out to a small lead and then hang on until they had the win.

The Lady Raiders averaged 13 kills in each of the two games, but the Lady Cardinals put a stop to that in game three. Facing extinction, Mineral Area began to block the Three Rivers hitters, scoring more stuff blocks than the Lady Raiders had kills in the game.

Mineral Area blocked 21 attacks by Three Rivers in the third game with seven going for stuffs. The Lady Raiders only had five kills in the game which were mostly dinks over or past the Lady Cardinals blockers at the net.

Their blocking game not only gave the Lady Cardinals a win in game three, but it also switched the momentum going into the last two games as they and their fans enthusiasm reached a new crescendo.

Mineral Area's defense took over the game. What the blocks did not stop, the backfield defenders of Jessica Murdick, Cassidy Wisdom, Chelsey Morris and Tiara Boyer kept alive with constant digs, one handed and two.

Deflections off of the blocks were brought up constantly by nearly all of the players on the court as if the Lady Cardinals were saying, “You can't hit our floor.” Even though the game's final score was only a five-pointer, Mineral Area held a substantial lead all the way.

To get the Lady Cardinals' hitting game back into effectiveness, Coach Copeland made a few strategy changes.

“Jennifer (Gabrian) came to us as a hitter, and I felt if we could get the ball to her, she would give us another area of attack that they would not be ready for,” said Coach Copeland. “I'm just glad it worked out.”

Gabrian is usually the setter for the Lady Cardinals and had 37 assists on the night, but Copeland had Morris take over that skill when she was on the floor, and Morris set Gabrian for six of her eight kills, and a total of 12 assists in all.

The fourth game started with the Lady Cardinals regenerated and the Lady Raiders rattled. Gabrian was able to set Mineral Area's top hitter Monika Jaroszewicz for the kill. Jaroszewicz struggled offensively in the first two games, because Three Rivers looked for her to attack the ball and set up double blocks each time.

With Gabrian also becoming a threat on attacks, the Lady Raiders became more spread out, and Jaroszewicz was able to get free of the double blocks to once again pound the ball for six kills in the fourth game and six more in game five. Jaroszewicz had 16 kills in the game

A constant factor in Mineral Area's attack game was the kills made by Wisdom. When Wisdom wasn't making one-handed, diving dig in the backcourt, she was hammering kills from the left side, leading the team with 19 spread out over the five games.

The final game was not one for mistakes by either team, since it was only a 15-pointer, and neither team could ill-afford to fall behind the other.

With MAC'S attack going full force, a Wisdom kill made it 6-3 and Three Rivers immediately called time. Three Rivers, now also facing extinction, fought back to take the lead at 8-7. Morris set Gabrian for two kills to tie the game at nine apiece.

Mineral Area would take the lead on an attack by Three Rivers that was called out, and the Lady Raiders called again for time, their second in game five and their seventh of the match.

Three Rivers would tie the game at 12, but from there the Lady Cardinals went for the jugular with Jaroszewicz being set for two crushing kills to make it game point. The final point came on a Three Rivers miscue.

Boyer and Dickey had 10 kills each, Gabrian had five solo blocks and Chaumone Robinson-Streater had four.

All-Conference Players

After the match, four Lady Cardinals were honored during the announcement of the All-Conference team. Gabrian, Wisdom, and Jaroszewicz were named to the first team, and Lora Dickey received Honorable Mention.

Jefferson College, 6-0, was acknowledged as Conference champions with Mineral Area tied for second with Meramec College at 4-2. Mineral Area is now 26-11 and will play tonight at 6:30 at home against West Plains.