Nobody said keeping a winning streak alive would be easy. ALLEN STARTED OFF on the right foot, effectively neutralizing Longview’s hitters with stellar defense and some deftly placed kill shots.
Fresh off a 6-0 week, Allen Community College’s volleyball team looked to be well on its way to win number seven Monday, rolling to convincing wins in the first two sets against visiting Longview.
But a letdown threatened to let the Lakers back into the proceedings.
The Red Devils steadied their ship after a third-set loss, and ended the match with another show of firepower from its front-line hitters.
Allen’s 25-14, 25-22, 16-25, 25-14 win over Longview marks the seventh straight win for the Red Devils, the longest in head coach Jessica Peters’ coaching career.
“It was a nice win, except for that third set,” Peters said. “Even though we won the first two sets, we didn’t have the same spark. Our flame was flickering, but it was more a slow burn.”
Peters thought fatigue may have played a role in Monday’s affairs. The Red Devils were playing their seventh match in as many days, including four over the weekend at the Allen Invitational.
“Now that we’ve reached a peak, it’s up to the girls to realize that each game here on out is going to be tougher and more important to us for the season,” she said.
That’s even more important with the upcoming schedule, starting Wednesday at 18th-ranked Kansas City, Kan. Allen doesn’t play at home again until Oct. 16.
The Red Devils opened the first set with a 12-3 run to take control in the opener, then used a six-point run late in the second to pull away, although the Lakers didn’t go quietly. Longview rattled off five straight points to pull within 24-22 before Danielle Goodman tipped a kill over the net.
By then, Longview had seized momentum. The Lakers opened the third set on a 10-3 run. Allen pulled to within 16-12 but no closer.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get yourself up for a team you’ve played already,” Peters said, recalling Allen defeated Longview in four sets in a Highland tournament on Sept. 7.
A group of familiar faces helped right the ship. Hitters Sidney Keith, Goodman and Lizzy Huey took turns hammering down kills as Allen broke open a 7-7 deadlock with a 6-2 run and forcing a Longview timeout.
Keith’s kill pushed the lead to 17-10, then Andonae Magdziarz’s kill stopped a two-point Longview streak.
Huey ended the match with a pair of kills.
Goodman led the way with 14 kills, 15 points and a solo block. Keith had 11 kills, 12.5 points, 25 digs and three assisted blocks. Huey wound up with nine kills, 11 points, one solo block and two block assists. Adriee Munoz had eight kills, 23 set assists, 9.5 points, 11 digs and three assisted blocks. Sarah Charbonneau had 25 digs.
Red Devils in seventh heaven
