Green Valley makes upset plans fizzle

Nick Christensen

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 | 10:29 a.m.

For about half an hour on Wednesday, an upset was brewing.

The Chaparral Cowboys opened up a 15-4 lead in their second game against Green Valley in the 4A Sunrise Region girls' volleyball tournament at Coronado High School, dominating on the front line after falling 25-9 in the first game.

But almost as quickly as the run started, it fizzled, and reality set in for the Northeast's third seed. The apparently unfazed Gators went on a 14-5 run and took the lead at 22-21, forcing Chaparral to score 27 to win the second game.

The Gators (SE-2) hung on to that partial momentum, beating Chaparral 25-18 in the third match and taking the fourth, 25-11. Green Valley advanced to face Las Vegas (NE-1) today at 7:45 p.m. in the Sunrise semifinals. The Wildcats eliminated Basic (SE-4), 25-17, 25-15, 25-13.

Green Valley coach Erin Hill said her team's youth attributed to their second-game stumble.

"It was a little lack of focus," Hill said. "As a young team, that's something we were working on. We're not a young team anymore."

She said that once her team got back in the rhythm of things, the rest came easily for the Gators, who advanced to last year's 4A State Tournament.

"I just hoped our serving and passing would come around," Hill said. "I said we're going to play 'Gator volleyball,' and my girls knew what Gator volleyball is."

The Gators were led by Jennifer Macy's six service aces and 17 assists, with Lindsey Schiess, Lisa Pappas, and Kaui Piena contributing six kills apiece.

"We spread the ball around," Hill said. "We don't have one all-star, but we all use our strength, which is consistency."

Chaparral's Megan Simpson led the Cowgirls charge with eight kills and seven blocks. Dawn Backes added seven kills.

In the other semifinal, Silverado (SE-3) will face Coronado (SE-1) for a spot in the championship match.

Silverado's Jamie Mellies had 21 assists, and the Skyhawks' Samantha Richard contributed 17 kills as they swept Eldorado (NE-2), 25-10, 25-18, 25-20. The Sundevils' Natasha Wilcox contributed eight kills and three digs.

Eldorado came alive to make the match competitive after losing handily in the first game.

"Eldorado picked up their defense," Silverado coach Rachael Blair said. "They're a defensive team, so we had to make some adjustments and move the offense around."

The Cougars, who went undefeated in Southeast play, had little trouble with Valley (NE-4) in a 25-14, 25-14, 25-13 victory.

The Sunrise and Sunset Region semifinals continue today and both regions' championship matches will be Friday. All matches are played at Coronado High School.