Buffs lose “pink game” to Rebels; come back strong at Thermopolis Invitational

By: 
Marlys Good

Greybull had a long string of matches last week, starting with the Sept. 27 Pink Game in Basin against traditional rival, Riverside, and ending Saturday at the Thermopolis Invitational where they won the Silver bracket championship.

“We had a strong end to our week of volleyball,” Coach Sara Schlattmann commented. “And really that is what you hope for.”

They fell to Riverside 8-25 16-25 16-25. Speaking of the match, Schlattmann said, “There was a great turnout for the match and it is always a fantastic fundraiser for a strong (breast cancer) cause. We didn‘t have our best match, but I will credit Riverside who has a strong team and played very well.”

The invitational tournament Friday and Saturday included a 12-team field. “It was good to get to play some teams we hadn’t played before,” Schlattmann said.

Pool play scores were as follows: Farson-Eden, 21-6, 21-16; Kemmerer,17-21, 21-20; Riverside, 12-21, 14-21; Wind River 21-9, 21-20; and Saratoga, 16-21, 14-21.

The record put them in the Silver bracket where they played Encampment, winning in two hard-fought sets, 26-24, 25-21. In the championship, Greybull beat conference foe Shoshoni in three sets 26-24, 16-25,  15-11, proving when the going got tough, they could pull together and get the W.

As a team the Buffs served “around” 90%, which Schlattmann said was their goal.

“The best part of the weekend,” according to the coach, “was that we were able to end with a W after trailing 8-11 in the final set. The girls showed that they have the grit to finish. I was very proud of them.”

Individual stats were not available.

The Buffs faced Rocky Mountain in Cowley Tuesday and will host the Lady Eagles from Tongue River Friday at 2 and 3 p.m. 

The regional tournament is rapidly approaching (Oct. 28-29). The Buffs have just one conference match left; they host Shoshoni Oct. 21. The Silver bracket game at Thermopolis was a harbinger of just what fans might see in the season’s conference finale.

 

Category: