Friday, November 13, 2009

Day two, part three: the show down


Libby might have taken the divisional crown from Polson, but Polson took revenge and ended the Loggers' season. This comes after Polson's three-set win over Libby 25-22, 25-21, 25-17.

The first set had Polson taking an early lead and never giving it up. Nicole Davey stepped up in this set with her serving and kills. The Pirates lead grew to six points but Loni Havlovick made a couple kills to put the set away.

Senior middle hitter Loni Havlovick reaches for a kill.

The second set started closer with the score tied five times. Double blocks are what helped Polson in this match.

Polson established the lead early on but Libby never backed down. After Jackie Mee hit Christa Red Crow in the head with a kill, Polson took it to the Loggers.

As Duford dished out the ball, Polson’s hitters knocked it down.

With the score at 17-13 in favor of Polson, Mee collided with her own player and went down. After a couple minutes on the ground, she limped over to the bench. It looked to be a knee or ankle injury. She sat out for a couple points before returning. The ball was served to her and she made a slow attempt to handle it. She then returned to the bench for the rest of the game.

This may or may not have taken the wind out of Libby’s sails as Polson sailed to a 25-17 win.

The Pirates were so excited to take the win. The bench was loud and the fans in the stands want the win just as much as the volleyball team.

Four Pirates had at least two aces, with Davey serving three and putting down 15 kills. Davey also showed grit and dug out 15 digs. Havlovick made her presence at the net known often and officially tallied two blocks.

Senior outside hitter Nicole Davey goes up for a kill.

The Pirates advance to take on the winner of the Fergus (Lewistown)/Park (Livingston) match. The game will be Polson’s last of the day no matter the outcome. It will be the Pirates third game in ten hours.

Polson will have four hours to rest up before the start of their next game. The Pirates didn’t look one bit tired against Libby. They played with the same intensity and energy level as they did in any other game I have watched of theirs. I guess two hours isn’t enough time for exhaustion to set in. However, four hours might be a nice amount of time to sit and rest but the lactic acid might have enough time to set in as well.

The win secures that the worst Polson can do is fourth.

I can guess what the Pirates will be doing in the next four hours: eating, resting, recovering.

As for me, I have no idea. I don’t really want to venture out into Bozeman. The fear of get lost and/or stranded scares me too much and finding a parking spot five steps from the entrance doors upon my return is unlikely. That was one of the few perks of 10 a.m. game. The other would be fresh coffee and muffins that weren't stale from sitting out all day. It's the small things in life, my mom says.

There's pizza and cookies in the media room, or as some lovingly refer to it, the think tank.

"The braun is what the brains write about," is how one reporter put it.

I'll probably stake out a comfy blue plastic chair in the stands and work. Since the only place to get internet is IN the stands, I might as well. Funny how you can't get internet in the media room, where it is needed the most but you get a clear-as-day, full signal in the stands, where it really isn't needed. Also a coincidence, I'm writing this blog for "On the bleachers" while I'm in the bleachers. So fitting.


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