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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Monday, November 02, 2009 9:22 PM

Vikings expect more success after state volleyball finish

By Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor

The Central Heights High School volleyball players and coaches feel there is a lot of success to follow now that the Vikings have a taste of state competition.

The Viking spikers finished fourth this past weekend in the 3A State Volleyball Tournament in Salina.

“It did a lot for their confidence,” Central Heights coach Kelli Brown said. “They can play with the best.”

Senior Shelby Droddy said the girls now expect more.

“It definitely will help in our other sports,” she said. “We will want [to go to state]. It will carry over to the other sports.”

The Vikings, who won their pool Friday with a 3-0 mark, fell to Phillipsburg in the semifinals, 25-23, 25-16.

Central Heights then had a rematch with Southwestern Heights in the consolation match. The Vikings lost 25-19, 26-28, 26-24.

Droddy said it was a tough match Saturday in the rematch as both went three games.

Brown said the girls picked themselves up after the disappointing loss to Phillipsburg.

“They showed such character,” Brown said. “They played hard.”

Droddy said teamwork pulled the Vikings through the tough points.

“We helped each other out,” she said. “Talking throughout the game is important. We kept our drive alive. It is mental as much as it is physical.”

Senior Casey Droddy said the Vikings’ schedule prepared them for state. The Vikings played bigger schools in tournament play.

“We knew we could do it,” she said.

Brown said the players played up to their capabilities.

“They were fulfilling their roles perfectly,” Brown said. “That is what it takes. It is a whole team thing.”

Junior Marissa Cox, who was selected to the all-state tournament team, said the Vikings did a good job of moving the ball around at the net.

That made the opponents have to defend the whole court.

“We played our game,” Cox said. “We [set] it our outsides and they put the ball down. We responded to everything.”

The Vikings did not play like state rookies.

“It was a good atmosphere,” Cox said. “There was a lot of people there.”

Shelby Droddy said some of the players had played in such places as the Bicentennial Center during club ball.

“We were excited to be there,” she said. “We did not want to settle for being there.”

The players said the Viking crowd helped spur them through some rough patches.

“It was fun to see our fans react,” Cox said. “Our fans helped us a lot.”

Cox said it was neat to see the fans get behind a girls sports team like they have in the past for the boys.

And the players rewarded them.

Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com

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Vikings expect more success after state volleyball finish

By Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.