Lady Warriors reach district finals, fall to Crystal City
CRYSTAL CITY – The Valle Lady Warriors began district play at Crystal City against Bourbon on Tuesday. Valle’s steady balance of offense and defense easily handed the Lady Warriors a 25-16, 25-13 victory.
Carla Stoll led the Lady Warriors in kills with six, and Erin Bruns added five. Stoll also racked up 16 assists and six digs. Katie Bergtholdt recorded five aces and Danielle Donze chipped in three.
The victory advanced Valle to the championship match against the hosting Crystal City Lady Hornets. Both teams gave fans something to cheer about but in the end, the Lady Warriors were denied another district title. Crystal City triumphed in two exciting games by the scores of 25-20 and 25-23.
The Lady Hornets took a 5-3 edge on a kill by Elisabeth Pruitt and an error by Valle. Crystal City extended their lead to 10-5 on a kill by Carissa Garber and an ace by Teri Marler. An ace and a kill by Valle’s Bruns cut the deficit down 13-10. The Lady Warriors narrowed Crystal City’s lead 16-14 on a kill and a tip by Bergtholdt and an ace by Donze.
Katie Shuh fired down a kill, and the Lady Hornets’ held a one point edge, but an ace by Katelynn Smreker boosted Crystal City to a 21-17 lead. A kill by Pruitt and a tip by Marler destroyed any idea of a Valle comeback.
The Lady Hornets got off to a great start in the second contest. A kill by Pruitt and Kayla Helwig and an ace by Jenny Thode gave Crystal City a 5-2 edge. Some mistakes by Crystal City and a tip by Bergtholdt and Donze handed the Lady Warriors a 7-5 lead. A tip by Marler and a kill by Garber tied the game at nine apiece.
Both teams tied the game five more times. The contest reached 17-17 when a kill by Smreker and Garber gave the Lady Hornets a 20-17 lead. Bruns and Garber traded two kills, and a well-placed serve by Andrea Tessereau helped Crystal City to a 23-19 edge.
Helwig smashed down another kill to place the Lady Hornets one point away from the district championship. Bergtholdt came through with a big stuff block, but an out-of-bounds serve by Valle ended their season.
&#8220Crystal City is a quality program,” commented Valle’s coach Nancy Fischer. &#8220They’re well coached and have talented athletes. I think it was a great match for the fans to watch.”
Bergtholdt had eight kills for the Lady Warriors and Donze contributed five. Stoll led in assists and digs again with 18 and seven respectively. Shuh followed in digs with five and Angie Abt added four.
Valle ends their season at 17-12-1.
