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2008

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Spirits come way back to beat Eagles in four

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press                                                                   

By ERIC BACA
Valley Press Staff Writer

"I told them to try to put a dent in it so at least we'd have something to build off in the fifth set," Neill said.

It would never get that far.

The Spirits busted out on a 14-3 run, capping a seemingly improbable comeback in the finale to their 25-18, 21-25, 25-14, 25-23 win over the visiting Eagles Monday night.

"This team is really coming together," Neill said. "This is a great group of girls that work so hard for each other. There isn't anyone that they look to. They all look to each other.

"A lot of credit is owed to (assistant coach Mike Kelley). They have really responded."

Strong passing and a balanced offensive attack, Neill said, put the Spirits (3-0) in position to take the match despite the large defect.

Arlyne Stockhausen led Paraclete with 12 kills and Val Dluzak turned in 11. It was Leana Moleta's five aces, though, that Neill credited with keeping the Eagles' defense off balance.

"We served so tough (Monday)," she said.

The Spirits fought back in the second set, erasing a six-point lead. With the score tied at 21 apiece, Lancaster's Kelsea Hundtoft put the Eagles up for good with a strong slam down the middle of the floor. An ace by Cindy Castro put the Eagles on match point, which they converted on the next serve. "I thought Cindy served really well (Monday)," Eagles assistant coach Andrea Buckner said. "Her serving gave us a lot of points."

Buckner, who filled in for head coach Dave Guiterrez, kept the match in perspective, saying the Spirits offered Lancaster a welcomed-challenge.

The final game before the Eagles host Eastside tonight to start Golden League play, Lancaster was just hoping to pull something away.

"This is probably the best I've seen Paraclete play in all along time," Buckner said. "This is the kind of battle that you want right before league."

In Guiterrez's absence, Buckner said she experimented with lineup changes, hoping to gain insights that could pay off throughout league.

"We've asked the girls to learn in games, and they have," she said.

Seferina Starks led the Eagles with 14 kills. Ariane Labrzycki totaled 29 assists.

"All the girls played well," Buckner said. "I am proud of them."

Neither team was able to benefit from much momentum in the opening set. Finally, with the score tied at 14, Paraclete surged to a 10-4 run to win.

Also contributing for the Spirits was Torie Mischel, who had nine kills, and Lauren Martinez with six kills.

Emily Duncan emphatically slammed the Spirits to the victory in the clinching set as she hit to the readied arms of Lancaster's Allyson Lods. The ball passed through Lods' arms and hit her in the leg.

The Spirits have now claimed all three of their meetings thus far with Golden League teams. Paraclete defeated Palmdale and Highland last week.