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“We had a slow start and they (Spokane) came to play,” said Fair Grove coach Tanya Peck. “I tell my girls it’s hard to play a team like Spokane. It’s hard to read their hitters and they play an unorthodox style of play.”
The Owls had dropped two straight sets the night before to a talented Reeds Spring team, and were determined to have a better showing against the Lady Eagles. The Owls were communicating well with each other and playing with a tempo that caused Fair Grove to make some uncharacteristic mistakes. With the score 18-11, Fair Grove seemed to have the set easily in hand but the Owls wouldn’t go away.
Fair Grove let Spokane back into the game 18-16 forcing Peck to call a timeout to slow Spokane’s momentum. Fair Grove kept their marginal two to three point lead throughout the rest of the set. The Owls didn’t help their cause, missing five serves in the set, falling 25-22.
“We missed nine serves in the whole game,” said Spokane coach Callie Sitton. “You would think we never practice serving. We played so well in the first set, but then in the second set our attitudes got down and when that gets down everything kind of gets shot.”
The second set saw Fair Grove take control and jump out to a 15-2 lead. Spokane could not make a run, allowing the Eagles to win easily, 25-9. Fair Grove had a balanced attack led by junior Mikala Hicks and senior Morgan Kensinger with six kills each. Also, Jorden Stacey contributed seven assists and Alea Cooper had seven digs.
When asked about the outlook for her team, Peck said, “If the girls can keep the attitude and work ethic that we have now, I think we have a shot to do something in the post-season.”
Fair Grove will travel to Willard on Thursday, Sept. 13 and play in the Ash Grove Tournament on Saturday the Sept. 15.
Spokane will travel to Clever on Thursday and Buffalo on Saturday for the Buffalo Tournament.
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