Lady Rebels mow down Buffs, Grizzlies and Meeteetse Longhorns

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By Marlys Good

It was the best week in many years for a Lady Rebel volleyball team; one the athletes will long remember. The netters registered three wins, beating Greybull, Rocky Mountain and Meeteetse in that order, but the two most important wins were over conference opponents Greybull, 27-25, 25-13, 25-17, and Rocky Mountain, 25-14, 25-14, 25-20.

With just those three teams in the Class 2A Northwest Conference this year, it gives Riverside a big boost to being the conference champion and giving the Rebels a top seed for the conference tournament.

It was 1A Meeteetse that gave the Rebels the most trouble, extending Saturday’s match to five sets before Riverside pulled off the 17-25, 25-20, 25-18. 23-25, 15-13 victory.

Beating the Buffs in their own gym was huge for the Rebels. It was a long time coming and Riverside was on Cloud 9.

Coach Cindi Smith said her team was “ready to go” before the Greybull match. There were cheers, high fives and smiles all around when they won in three sets. “They were so excited; I was really proud of them,” Smith said.

 It was double excitement when they hosted Rocky Mountain — and beat the Griz in three sets. You would have to go back to the record books to see how long it has been since the Rebels accomplished the double coup.

Meeteetse, a 1A team, was the real deal. “They have seniors who have been playing together since they were freshmen,” said Smith. “They have three big hitters – they are a solid team.”  And it showed in the five close sets.

Smith said the Rebels are not always consistent, have their ups and downs, but always pull together as a team. 

GREYBULL MATCH STATS

SERVING 84% — Hailee McClure 93%, 4 aces; KILLS 28 — Caroline Schlattmann 8; Monique Valesquez, 7, 375 hitting efficiency; ASSISTS 26 — McClure 19; DIGS 50 — Victory Buck 23; BLOCKS — 3 solo, 3 assists: Vaidyn VanderPloeg 1 and 2, Schlattmann 1 and 1. 

ROCKY MT. MATCH STATS

SERVING 85% — Breana Riley 100%, Buck 95%, 5 aces. KILLS 38 —  Schlattmann 16, Buck 9; ASSISTS 37 — Riley 21, McClure 13; DIGS 45 — Buck 11, VanderPloeg 10; BLOCKS 2 —  VanderPloeg, Schlattmann.

MEETEETSE MATCH STATS

 SERVING 88% — McClure 100%, Buck 95%, 2 aces; KILLS  35 — Schlattmann 13, Valesquez 9; ASSISTS 33 — McClure 15, Riley 10; DIGS 80 — Buck 22, Schlattmann 15, McClure 14; BLOCKS — 2 solo, 4 assists: Schlattmann 2 solo, VanderPloeg 4 assists.

“It was an exciting week for Riverside volleyball, earning two conference wins,” said Smith. “The girls are working hard and building on their strengths while pushing to improve in all aspects of the game. It is our goal to grow as a team each time we step out on the court.”

This is homecoming week for the Rebels; they will host the Shoshoni Lady Blue Friday in matches at 5 and 6 p.m.