It was Goliath versus, well, Goliath in a volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Sedona Red Rock High School gymnasium.
The No. 2 ranked Scorpions volleyball team [7-1] hosted the No. 1 ranked Northwest Christian Crusaders [7-1] in a rematch of last season’s state championship, a match in which the senior-laden Scorpions took home the prize while the younger Crusaders could only say ‘wait until next year.’
But now it’s next year, and the more experienced Crusaders won a tightly-contested match over the now relatively inexperienced Scorpions 3-0 [27-25, 25-20, 25-23].
“Talent-wise we can match up with them. I think our inexperience really showed,” said Scorpions volleyball coach John Parks. “We played a little bit tight, not as aggressive as we’ve been playing, and so that shows the lack of experience that we have out there this year.”
A block by Scorpions’ sophomore Kendall Woellmer gave Sedona an early 9-5 lead, but the Crusaders came back to take the lead 12-11 after a block and two kills by senior Alexis Patterson.
Scorpions senior Morgan Hawes converted a pair of shorts sets by senior Mallory Lamparter into kills, and then a dink shot by Lamparter gave Sedona the lead again 15-14.
But the Crusaders pulled out to a three point lead at 21-18 behind the net play of Patterson and senior Jaqueline Horwood.
The Scorpions climbed back into the game with a pair of kills, and then a pair of aces by Hawes that put them at game point, 24-23.
For the full story, please see the Friday, Oct. 4, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.