Alba-Golden pulls off first-round upset

Posted 11/5/20

It was sheer joy. The moment Alba-Golden’s Lady Panthers won their bi-district volleyball title last Thursday filled the home side of the Union Grove gymnasium with a sense of triumph and unbridled happiness.

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Alba-Golden pulls off first-round upset

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It was sheer joy. The moment Alba-Golden’s Lady Panthers won their bi-district volleyball title last Thursday filled the home side of the Union Grove gymnasium with a sense of triumph and unbridled happiness.

There was a lot of hugging and cheering and a few tears. It was something to see.

Coach Jamie Webster tried to give a comment just after the winning point but could only manage “I’m speechless.”  As she went to join the team, she turned back and shouted, “We are one!”

The faces of the team in victory carried the whole range of emotions. Most people of the stands were likely thinking, “We knew you could do it.”

The Lady Panthers upset the James Bowie Lady Pirates, the number one seed out of District 17-2A, by a score of 21-25, 25-17, 25-14, 23-25, 15-9. 

It was a night when several Lady Panthers had their best performances of the year.  Senior Kallie Wright played a great match. She fueled the majority of Alba-Golden’s attacks and was uncannily accurate with her kill shots all night. She also exhibited good awareness and made excellent adjustments at the net.

Fellow senior Kayli Covey had her best setting game of the season. Her consistent sets gave the Lady Panthers the best opportunities to score. 

Classmate Autumn Whitten continued her productive ways and made a huge impact on the course of the match. 

Abby Hallman, Cacie Lennon, Amanda Stewart, Skyler West, Hope Wiley and Kamrin Wright each made significant contributions in the win.  

Alba-Golden surged out to a quick 4-0 game one lead before James Bowie knotted the score at six. An excellent service game by the Lady Pirates built a six point advantage which the Lady Panthers eventually overcame to tie the game again at 14. Bowie drew ahead on solid offensive play. Two Wright kills and a Lennon kill after a long volley closed the gap to 20-21, but Bowie took game one. 

Alba-Golden pulled away midway through game two behind some great back row work by Wiley and timely scoring from Wright and Whitten. In game three, the Lady Panthers made 7-point run – with Wiley’s accurate service game – to build a 15-7 advantage. Alba-Golden was methodically effective in games two and three.     

The district 17-2A champs were not going to go quietly. James Bowie came out on fire in game four. They accelerated to a 20-9 lead and had every bit of momentum in the building. It was at this point that Alba-Golden became a winning team. The Lady Panthers won 12 of the next 14 points to draw within one at 21-22. Although Bowie won game four, that comeback seemed to erase any doubt in the Lady Panthers about their team.

Before game five, Coach Webster exhorted the team that energy always takes the tie-breaking games.  With the game tied at 8, the Lady Panthers put together a 7-point run to secure the bi-district championship. 

The win reflected a belief in the concept of team, something which this group of athletes has built from scratch this year.  For the Alba-Golden faithful, it was exhilarating to witness.