Buffs trample opponents on home court

Win all five Challenge matches

The Greybull Lady Buffs were good hosts off the court and fierce containers on the court at Western Wyoming Volleyball Challenge.  Coach Sara Schlattmann was especially happy with the serving both days, 94% Friday and 90% Saturday.  

“I was very proud of the girls for working hard all weekend,” Schlattmann said. “I can see our practice focuses are starting to show up in matches. We have been looking to improve our attack and I think we did a good job of adjusting.”

The Buffs started their 5-0 tourney record Friday morning as they dispatched Wind River, 25-13, 25-14.

The second team to fall was Kemmerer, whom the Buffs dispatched, 25-17  25-14.   

In fact, the Buffs won every match in two sets with one exception: 1A Farson-Eden. Kemmerer went down 25-17, 25-14.   Big Piney gave the Buffs a battle in the first set before the Buffs won 25-23 but the second was all Greybull, 25-13.

Farson-Eden battled the Buffs in three games, 25-20, 25-24, 15-12. In the final match Saturday, the Wyoming Indian Lady Chiefs lost to the Buffs, 25-4, 25-15.

Statistically in Friday’s play, Camila Acuna served 100%; Perla Rodriquez and Wyatt Whaley served four aces each. Schlattmann said nearly the entire team was better than 90% from the line.

“Our defense was led by Fatima Chavez with eight digs. Offensively, we had a very balanced attack led by Aleksey McColloch with 12 kills, Marlee Henson had nine, Camila Acuna added seven and Rodriguez chipped in with six.”

In Saturday’s 90% serving, McColloch had the hot hand, going 49 of 50 with seven aces. Shayne Chatham served 22 of 23. Ellie Holloway had three aces.

Whaley led the defense with 12 digs while Fatima had 11.

For the weekend, Whaley had 86 assists.

 “Saturday’s attack was distributed well,” according to the coach. 

Rodriquez was credited with 23, McColloch 20, Hensen 15, Acuna 12, Ellie Holloway four.

Looking ahead, Schlattmann said “We are going to continue to work to improve our passing out of serve receive, and most importantly, our communication.  which from time to time falls off significantly. We have to better leverage our momentum when it swings in our direction.”

Greybull will be traveling to Rocky Mountain for their first conference match of the season. Matches start at 4 p.m.

 Saturday they will host Thermopolis.   Of Rocky Mountain, Schlattmann said, “They have a strong team and we match up pretty well with them. We need to be focused and minimize our errors.”

As for Thermopolis, the Buffs have not seen the Lady Bobcats play, but Schlattmann said she expects them to be a tough opponent. “They have some big hitters that we will need to be prepared for. It is great to get the conference season going. Matches Saturday start at noon.”