By CHUCK LARSEN
Sports Editor
Unbeaten Lawton Original beat Chickasha in straight games Thursday to knock the Lady Chicks out of their post-season volleyball tournament.
The Chicks got off to a shaky start earlier, dropping their first game to Macarthur’s B team 19-25, but they got back on track and won 25-14 and 15-7 to advance to the semifinals.
The top-seeded Wolverines, coached by former CHS assistant Rachelle Kemp, had a first-round bye then beat Cement 25-12 and 25-22 to advance.
They put the Chicks away 25-15 in game one but Chickasha gave then a fight in game two, staying close most of the way and tying it twice, but a late run got them into the finals with a 25-20 win.
“When we were attacking we were doing really well,” Chick coach Nancy Waters said, “but when we played free-ball with them we had problems. They’ve got some really good hitters. We were passing well but we just couldn’t pick up everything they hit at us.
“We gave them a run in that second game, though, and our passing has improved. We had some good kills but we just didn’t have enough. When you can play a team like that that close you have to be doing something right. I’m excited about the fall.”
Macarthur also had first-round bye then they beat Ike in straight sets to set up the other semifinal with Elgin. After cruising past Community Christian, the Owls got the Highlanders 25-19 in their first game. They hung in game two 25-23 but Mac pulled out the rubber game 15-10 to set up an all-Lawton final.
Macarthur stayed in the good rhythm they had against Elgin and got by Original 25-21 in game one. It was that close all the way, tied at 10, 16, 17 and 18. Mac got out to 21-18, Original closed to 21-20 then Mac took serve at 23-21 and closed it out.
Game two was a series of long runs. Mac opened up to 9-4 then Original ram off ten straight points to go up by five. Mac rallied to take the lead back at 18-14 then the teams traded points to get to 25-20, Macarthur, for the championship.
“I’m very proud of the ladies,” Macarthur coach Wendy Allen said. “They did an excellent job. Katrina (Gray) did an outstanding job serving and Ashley (Baldridge) stood up at the line and did an excellent job blocking all day.”
Kemp was disappointed but her Wolverines were perfect for eleven matches.
“We had some communication breakdowns today. This was a disappointing loss but we’re looking forward to a great season. This is summer league, not the state championship, and I think we learned a huge lesson about communication and leadership today. I’m very proud of them.”
NOTE: Chickasha B had to forfeit their first game of the day because of not having enough players.
