Page 19 - YB_2004

Team unity wins
v trip to State

The volleyball team was by no means laid back. The Lady Raiders
worked together to earn a 6-D record before losing to Humphrey St.
0 Francis in the CB Invite. The tough loss caused the seniors to step it up
and show more leadership. Determined not to lose again, the Lady
Raiders triumphed in the Hampton Tournament, beating tough teams
1
Freeman and then Hampton, providing a sweet victory for the 2002-
2003 District Final defeat. "Hampton was an exciting game," said junior
Shelby Morris. "We had players who were injured, but we all came
1 In the Weeping Water Quad, Mead Volleyball faced its arch-rival in
together to pull through."

the first of the season's four matches. In 2002-2003, Malcolm stomped
the Lady Raiders three of the four matches played. This season was a
different story; Mead pulled together, beating Malcolm all four games,
including the match for the ECNC title. " TI1e Malcolm victories meant
everything we worked for was paying off," said junior Sara Ballard.
y AB the season progressed the girls continued to grow as a team,
making them an unstoppable force. The girls soon found themselves in
b
the final sub-district game against Freeman. It's hard to beat a good
team once and even twice, but the Lady Raiders would have to beat
Freeman a third time to make it to the District Final. After a strenuous
a
battle, the Lady Raiders were once again victoriou , beating Freeman 2-
1, and advancing to the District Final, against 29-4 Lewiston, who was
favored to win. With the stands packed and the crowd roaring, the
Lady Raiders overcame Lewiston 2-1 , sending the crowd onto the gym
1
floor and the Lady Raiders to State.
Making their first State appearance since 1998, the Raiders felt
optimistic going into the touman1ent and were matched up with 2 4-D
1 Orchard. The Raiders fell to Orchard in 2 heartbreaking sets. The girls

realized they had a great season with 2 7 wins and 2 losses and ranked 6th in
the state.
The New
Contact Sport
Junior Sara
Ballard kneels
down to help
senior Kate
Parsons. Kate
was elbowed in
the eye during
the State
Tournament.
Volleyball (Front Row) Elizabeth Konecky, Keshia Selko (Middle Row)
Katie Nelson, Chelsea Bergman, Alicia Virgl, Chrissy Push, Katie Schmidt,
Mary Winkelman, Trisha Larson(Back Row) Assistant Coach Crystal
Konecky, SM Cassie Leifeld, Nicole Andersen, Jaclyn Thorson, Allison
Leimer, Emily Bergman, Sara Ballard, Chelsea Thomsen, Shelby Morris,
Tracy Ballard, Danielle Nice, Coach Kellie Backlund (Not Pictured Kate
Parsons and SM Carol Miller)
'~

Volleyball ~,