Spiking Their First Conference Win

Williams, Farley lead stellar efforts to beat Burns and gain playoff momentum

The best things in life usually worth waiting for and the Glenrock High School volleyball witnessed them in the final will of the regular season. A month-long journey today featured close calls and two-point setbacks were all forgotten when everything finally came together on the same day and in the same match with a thrilling 23-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-11, 15-11 win over Burns.

The celebration afterward looked more like a group that just won a championship. For the Herders, it was just as big and just as important with it being their first win of October and of 3A Northeast Conference play and the timing could not had been better with regional play this weekend in Douglas.

The five-set thriller could had easily been a three-set sweep. GHS had a shot to win every set only to see two of them slip away, something the group has seen several times this year.

That didn’t keep the team from serving up victory this time. The only thing that stopped the team in the first was a slow start as three unforced errors allowed the Broncs to buck out to a 14-6  advantage. 

The Herders are built different and never give up and the immediate deficit was proof. Inside of giving up they stepped up and got solid defense from Nevaeh Federer and Caitilyn Williams to eventually tie things at 15-15.

The Converse County girls didn’t stop there. The used the setting of Malorey Lawrence and kills from Sheridan Sarvey and Megann Farley to grab a 20-16 lead.

The comeback stalled before reaching the finish line. Burns eventually tied the score with an ace and scored the last three points to take the opening set.

The Herders carried that momentum into the next set and never trailed. Rather than slow start, they went on the attack immediately with a blast from Gracie Sixbey a couple of stellar defense stops via Federer, an ace by Zhane Johnson and a kill from Katie Albrandt to storm out to a 13-4 lead and force a BHS time out.

It was a true team effort that made all the difference. Burns had a little team support as well and managed to pull within seven at 17-10.

Glenrock squashed that rally and went right back to work. The group unleashed another balance front row attack with kills from Lawrence, Williams, Albrandt and Sarvey to even the match with a 10-point win. 

GHS had several chances to take the third set after a slow start. Burns capitalized on a couple of unforced errors to sneak in front 4-0.

That slight edge was quickly forgotten when Sheridan Sarvey posted her stuffed block along with a kill. Williams and Gabby Taylor also made a couple of clutch digs and it was another outside smash by Farley that sent the team in front 9-8.

The lead quickly vanished. A couple of hitting miscues allowed the Broncs to go on a 6-1 run and build a 17-12 advantage.

The Herders still didn’t give up. Lawrence and Johnson set the team in the right direction with five assists, Federer notched her seventh dig and Sixbey crushed a shot to get them team within one at 22-21.

The rally ended on another unforced error. That set up three straight scores for BHS to take the set and move one away from taking the match.

That didn’t happen. In next, the Herders were hungry for victory and responded with their most impressive set of the season and used a blistering shot from Sarvey, a dink and stuffed block by Albrandt and a great save via Williams to storm out to an 11-2 lead.

Burns interrupted the run but it didn’t last for long. Sure Federer dished out five straight serves, Albrandt slammed a kill and Farley was relentless with a kill and an ace to move ahead 16-3.

The Broncs made a late attempt at and improbable comeback. They scored five out of six points to gain a little momentum.

That was denied when Williams took command with an impressive one-handed dig and soon crushed a kill for the final spark. Federer served another ace while Albrandt blasted two more attacks and Sarvey delivered a kill to take the win and force a fifth and deciding set. 

Glenrock wasn’t denied in the finale. Sarvey, Sixbey and Farley supplied the front row offense that gave the team a quick three-point lead and maintained it for the set and match win.

UP NEXT

Glenrock will spend the weekend in Douglas competing at the 3A East Regional Tournament. The top four places will earn a trip to the State tournament. 

The Herders will hit the court first at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 1 against Wheatland. The winner will play again at 6:45 p.m. while the loser plays again at 10:45 a.m. Nov. 2.