Led by junior Ashley Evans, the Lakota East Thunderhawks, ranked No. 3 in the Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll, were able to snap a three-game losing streak to rival Lakota West, No. 6 in the coaches’ poll, in three straight sets 25-20, 25-19, 25-16 Wednesday. The win marks the first time Lakota East had defeated the Firebirds since 2008.
“This is our first win for me as a junior and we finally won for our seniors,” said Evans of the first time she defeated Lakota West. “This one is for them.”
Last season, under first-year coach Casie Garland, Lakota East had lost to the Firebirds in the regular season and in a 25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8 thriller in the final 16 of the state tournament.
“It feels real good. I think we had a lot to prove from last year, losing to them twice,” Garland said. “We gave them a good run in the tournament, but I think we knew that this year was our year.”
Lakota West head coach Tracey Kornau, who has led the Firebirds to conference titles the past two seasons, also thought the Thunderhawks were going to be the team to beat this fall in the Greater Miami Conference.
“We knew they were going to be the team to beat going into this year,” Kornau said. “I believe that they are ranked in the state so far below where they should be. They are tough. We knew that going in and we didn’t respond to anything that they sent at us. They just come at you with so many weapons.”
>>>PHOTOS OF LAKOTA EAST AT LAKOTA WEST MATCH<<<
One of the biggest weapons is the 6-foot-2 Evans, who hammered 12 kills and had two blocks in the win. Evans, who will likely line up at setter when she attends Purdue University in 2013, did her damage against the Firebirds at outside hitter.
“She is one of the most versatile players around,” Garland said of Evans. “You can pretty much play her anywhere, but tonight it was all team and that is usually how we play. We spread it out, there is not just one person we go to or depend on and I think that is our biggest asset.”
Besides Evans, Garland received strong performances from seniors Lauren Beitel, who had eight kills, and Morgan Weinheimer, who finished with 25 digs.
Evans’ junior classmate Ali Lake contributed with seven kills, three blocks and an ace, while fellow junior Carlie Haddad finished with 11 kills. Like Evans, Lake had never been on a team that defeated Lakota West.
“This is amazing. We know it’s not the end, but it is still a huge step for us – not really physically, but emotionally,” said Lake, who is committed to play volleyball at Ohio University. “It is surreal.”
Both programs entered Wednesday’s match with perfect conference records and long winning streaks. In the end, it was Lakota East who extended their streak to 10 games and the Firebirds who saw their winning steak end at nine.
With the win, Lakota East improved its career record against its in-school district rival to 5-15. On the season, the Thunderhawks are now 12-1 overall and 6-0 against GMC opponents. Meanwhile, Lakota West falls to 10-3 overall and 5-1 in the GMC.
Lakota East was ranked 18th in this week’s Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association poll. Lakota West was ranked 11th in the same state poll.
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