A loss to the Dover High Green Wave followed by a victory over the Keene High Blackbirds last week brought the Londonderry High girls’ volleyball squad into this final week of the regular season with a modest, 5-11 record, but continuing hopes of qualifying for the state tournament.
As expected, the Lady Lancers had their hands full with a tough Dover High team on the seacoast Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Londonderry fell by a 3-1 match score and saw its record slip to 4-11 against a Dover crew which advanced to 11-3.
Dover routed its guest by a 25-12 tally in game one, but the Lady Lancers came flying back to take a 25-18 victory in set number two to tie the match score at 1-1.
However, the hosts claimed wins of 25-12 and 25-13 in games three and four to end the battle.
“Despite the tough scores during sets one, three and four, it felt that we were very competitive throughout the night. There were very long stretches when the team was completely focused and locked into playing together. It has been three straight matches that the team has competed at a high level often,” said LHS coach Matt Leonard. “Despite the loss, we are on a roll of how we want to play moving forward for the remainder of the year. Obviously, Friday at Keene is a big match for us. If we continue to play as we have, we will be one step closer to locking up a playoff spot as one of the top 14 teams.”
Anna Haas tallied 21 assists and nine service points with four aces for the locals, Maddie Sanborn contributed 10 kills and eight digs, Meghan Brown notched seven kills, and Gillian Lynch bagged eight service points.
And the Londonderry crew excelled in its important battle at Keene on Friday the 13th, claiming a 3-1 victory to remain in the tournament hunt.
The locals bagged a 25-15 win in set one, but Keene rebounded well with a 25-20 win in set number two. However, the Lady Lancers claimed 25-12 and 26-24 successes in games three and four to collect the match success.
Haas was good for 34 assists, Britney Clark registered 25 service points, Sanborn notched 15 kills and seven digs, and Josie Collins collected 13 service points with eight aces as well as 12 kills.
“We did some really great things centered around teamwork, consistent energy, great decisions, and clutch play,” said Leonard. “We were down 18-24 in the fourth set, and Britney Clark served seven straight points for our victory. We are now one win away from locking up a playoff spot and we have played four really good, competitive matches in a row. Tonight was the most complete team effort to date as the better players stepped up and the role-players played their roles very well.”
Heading into this final week of the regular slate, the Lancers were looking at matches at home against Manchester Memorial on Monday night followed by a road contest at Nashua North on Wednesday, after Londonderry Times press time.
The LHS crew snared a big success – its third in its last four matches – on its senior night at home against Memorial Monday.
Londonderry won by a 3-1 match score, serving the Lady Crusaders their 12th straight defeat and making them a woeful 1-15 in what must seem like one long 2017 season.