ARGYLE - The Argyle volleyball team has relied on powerful serving all season.
That's why Argyle senior Cortney Gilbertson found it difficult when it was the Orioles' serving that broke down in the most inopportune times in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal four set loss to Highland, 25-20, 12-25, 25-23, 30-28 Thursday night. The Orioles had 17 service errors, including an uncharacteristic eight in the final set. The Orioles had three chances at a game-winning point late, but couldn't close it out after two service errors proved too much to overcome. It wasn't what Gilbertson envisioned going against the defending state champions.
"We played our hearts out," said Gilbertson, who had 13 kills. "Our serving killed us tonight. Everyone struggled. I missed a couple of serves. I hate to see my senior year go by. I just wish we could have made a few more plays."
Argyle coach Shane Johnson said the teamwork of the players and the serving were the reasons the Orioles advanced to the regional semifinals.
"I thought we outplayed them in many areas," Johnson said. "We had eight service errors in the fourth game. That changes the complexion of the game. It's disappointing, but that is volleyball."
The first set was a seesaw battle as the Cardinals took an early 5-2 lead. The Orioles (18-7) fought back with some strong kills by senior Abby Flanagan, who delivered a kill and had back-to-back aces to cut the Cardinals' lead to 15-14. Gilbertson had a kill late to tie it at 19. However, the Cardinals were able to force the Orioles into a couple of late hitting errors to seal it.
The second set was a complete reversal from the first for the Orioles. Gilbertson and Flanagan each had kills to help the Orioles jump out to a 15-8 lead. Argyle senior Danielle Treuthardt had a kill as the Orioles extended their lead to 19-9 and never looked back.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the third set before the Orioles rallied. Argyle senior Micala Peterson had a critical kill and then scored two points from the service line to cut the Cardinals' lead to 12-8. The Orioles trailed 23-17, but mounted a comeback. Argyle sophomore Jessica Treuthardt delivered an ace and Danielle Treuthardt had a block that cut the Cardinals' lead to 23-21. Flanagan had a kill to tie the game at 23, but after a sideout the Orioles misfired on a hit and dropped the third game 25-23.
In the final set, it was back-and-forth. Peterson set the ball over the Cardinals' front row to give the Orioles a 23-22 lead. Danielle Treuthardt came through with a block to tie the game at 25. A second Orioles' service error on a game-point gave the Cardinals a 27-26 lead. Peterson had a key tip to give Argyle a 28-27 lead, but the Orioles couldn't finish it. Highland sophomore Leigh Drury had back-to-back kills to give the Cardinals took a 29-28 lead. After a long volley, the Cardinals set the ball and found a hole in the Orioles' back row to win it.
"We just had to step it up and make a play," Gilbertson said. "We just couldn't finish it. I will always remember how we played together. It was the best season we have had. We are such close friends. It makes it that much more fun."
Peterson had 19 digs and five aces. Ostby collected 27 assists. Danielle and Jessica Treuthardt each had three blocks.
"After the match, the girls were disappointed," Johnson said. "They were hurting. The only thing I had to say was I was proud of them. They played a good match and worked hard all season."
That's why Argyle senior Cortney Gilbertson found it difficult when it was the Orioles' serving that broke down in the most inopportune times in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal four set loss to Highland, 25-20, 12-25, 25-23, 30-28 Thursday night. The Orioles had 17 service errors, including an uncharacteristic eight in the final set. The Orioles had three chances at a game-winning point late, but couldn't close it out after two service errors proved too much to overcome. It wasn't what Gilbertson envisioned going against the defending state champions.
"We played our hearts out," said Gilbertson, who had 13 kills. "Our serving killed us tonight. Everyone struggled. I missed a couple of serves. I hate to see my senior year go by. I just wish we could have made a few more plays."
Argyle coach Shane Johnson said the teamwork of the players and the serving were the reasons the Orioles advanced to the regional semifinals.
"I thought we outplayed them in many areas," Johnson said. "We had eight service errors in the fourth game. That changes the complexion of the game. It's disappointing, but that is volleyball."
The first set was a seesaw battle as the Cardinals took an early 5-2 lead. The Orioles (18-7) fought back with some strong kills by senior Abby Flanagan, who delivered a kill and had back-to-back aces to cut the Cardinals' lead to 15-14. Gilbertson had a kill late to tie it at 19. However, the Cardinals were able to force the Orioles into a couple of late hitting errors to seal it.
The second set was a complete reversal from the first for the Orioles. Gilbertson and Flanagan each had kills to help the Orioles jump out to a 15-8 lead. Argyle senior Danielle Treuthardt had a kill as the Orioles extended their lead to 19-9 and never looked back.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the third set before the Orioles rallied. Argyle senior Micala Peterson had a critical kill and then scored two points from the service line to cut the Cardinals' lead to 12-8. The Orioles trailed 23-17, but mounted a comeback. Argyle sophomore Jessica Treuthardt delivered an ace and Danielle Treuthardt had a block that cut the Cardinals' lead to 23-21. Flanagan had a kill to tie the game at 23, but after a sideout the Orioles misfired on a hit and dropped the third game 25-23.
In the final set, it was back-and-forth. Peterson set the ball over the Cardinals' front row to give the Orioles a 23-22 lead. Danielle Treuthardt came through with a block to tie the game at 25. A second Orioles' service error on a game-point gave the Cardinals a 27-26 lead. Peterson had a key tip to give Argyle a 28-27 lead, but the Orioles couldn't finish it. Highland sophomore Leigh Drury had back-to-back kills to give the Cardinals took a 29-28 lead. After a long volley, the Cardinals set the ball and found a hole in the Orioles' back row to win it.
"We just had to step it up and make a play," Gilbertson said. "We just couldn't finish it. I will always remember how we played together. It was the best season we have had. We are such close friends. It makes it that much more fun."
Peterson had 19 digs and five aces. Ostby collected 27 assists. Danielle and Jessica Treuthardt each had three blocks.
"After the match, the girls were disappointed," Johnson said. "They were hurting. The only thing I had to say was I was proud of them. They played a good match and worked hard all season."
