BY PETE MOHR | SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
V’Ball’s ‘Slope too steep
Bounce back at Mingus; A.J. here, Sept. 9
CSHS – Postgame, Sunnyslope’s Head Volleyball Coach Amber LeTarte modestly “couldn’t remember” for Sonoran News when her Lady Demons last lost a regular season match. It wasn’t to be last Thursday evening, Sept. 2, when the Ladies from ‘Slope blanked the LadyFalcons (25-13, 27-25, 27-12), a “repeat” of their 2009 State Championship three-game shutout over the LadyBirds at Brophy.
This season is Coach LeTarte’s fifth. The Lady Demons were State Champs in her 2006 inaugural campaign, “slipped” to a semifinalist berth in 2007 and “recovered” to win back-to-back State titles in 2008 and 2009. Now that, volleyball fans, is how “d-y-n-a-s-t-y” is spelled. [The above quotation marks are enviously mine – not Coach LeTarte’s.]
The Lady Falcons were never in Game #1, but jumped out to a 13-6 lead in Game #2, only to find themselves facing game point at 24-25. Junior Suzi DeSalvo’s “kill” kept the LadyBirds alive; but as a poker-playing college friend once observed, “Poise wins every time.”
The Lady Demons ran off the two game-winning points, then sent the disappointingly small crowd (what else is new?) home with a quick 25-12 “goodnight” in Game #3. Co-Captain Jordan Smith, at libero, was her usual valiant, acrobatic self, with senior Summer Anderson contributing some big-effort “digs.”
Head Coach Tom Gardner knows his Ladies need more firepower up front. Co-Captain Shan England can’t provide that offensive punch by herself. Count on “Coach Tom” to find the right combination.
Lady Falcons bounced back at (Cottonwood) Mingus, Tuesday night, winning 25-13, 25-20, 25-11. They host Apache Junction, Thursday, Sept. 9.
First serve times are 4 p.m. (FR), 5 p.m. (JV) and 6 p.m. (VAR). Where are you, Football Falcons? These LadyBirds need their biggest fans!
