The Lynx and the Lions clawed it out in volleyball for Homecoming at Lincoln last week, and split a pair of important league games.
Calvary Chapel won the first match, 28-26, 25-21 behind the 10 kills of Alexis Harris, but Lincoln County took the nightcap 25-7, 25-22.
Marissa Tiemann added nine assists and five digs in the first match for the Lions. In the finale, Harris had four kills, and Noelle Miller had three kills for Calvary Chapel.
Chesnee Harding had two kills, two aces, four digs and nine assists, and Jillyn Katschke added six kills for Lincoln County in the opener. In the second match, Harding had nine digs, four aces and six assists, and Bridon Lewis had six kills and two blocks for the Lynx, who got three kills and three aces from Kayla Mathews.
Lincoln coach Ken Thornock said the Lynx had a seven-point lead in the first game, but “we went on a skid,” and Calvary caught up and won by two. “We played tough in the next game,” he said, although losing by four. “It was really closer than the score showed.”
First game of the second match was a blowout for Lincoln. “We had a little talk and I told the girls they can play better, they were showing they could,” Thornock said, “and they stepped up and came out roaring and took it to them. That was fun to watch the girls do.”
The final game was a back and forth affair, Lincoln starting out slow, but coming on late to rally and pull out the win. Thornock commented, “We played pretty well. I was pretty happy.”
Lincoln (15-9, 9-3) held onto second place in the league behind White Pine. Calvary Chapel (17-10, 8-4) had a match at fourth place The Meadows yesterday, and Thornock was hoping Meadows just might have pulled out a couple of wins.
Lincoln faces Needles and Mountain View to finish the regular season this Friday and next Tuesday.
Thornock said he has been pleased with the work of the team this season. “They work really hard, they’re doing some good things. They like to set goals and like to set things to improve on. They are a fun group of girls to coach. I don’t think we have even peaked yet, but at the same time we don’t have room to let down at all.”
In a playoff run, no one does.
What is happening with teams in the Northern Division III is another go round between powerful defending state champion Yerington (29-2), winners of six of the last eight, Incline (7-5) and Pershing County (17-11).
The four-team, one day Southern Division III playoffs will be Nov. 8 at The Meadows High. State tournament is Nov. 14-15 in Reno.
