Volleyball team clinches Capital Conference title

An energized crowd cheered the Lady Outlaws on to their volleyball win over Cascade on Thursday, October 28. The victory clinched the Capital Conference title for Sisters. Final scores were: 25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 25-18 and 18-16.

As the Outlaws scored their winning point the team was engulfed by students from the stands. Screams and shouts of victory resounded in the gymnasium as the team and their fans celebrated the special moment and soon chants of "State! State! State!" were heard as the impact of the win settled in.

"We were all just hugging and crying," said Coach Chris Crosby. "We couldn't even see the girls because so many students were surrounding them."

Before the start of the game all eight senior girls were escorted to the center of the gym by their parents and honored for their years of accomplishments at Sisters High School. Emotions were running high and Coach Crosby said his team rode that wave through game one to get the 25-22 win.

"Cascade beat us defensively in games two and three," said Crosby. "Nothing hit the floor on their side of the court."

Crosby explained that the way Cascade plays defense "is to pit their strengths against our strengths."

Crosby told The Nugget that it took him and his staff three games to figure out what to tell the girls so they would be in a position to succeed.

The Outlaws came out strong in the fourth game and led the entire time.

"Kelsey (Gillespie) and Krystal (Fitter) gave 110 percent and played tremendous defense," said Crosby, "and our offense rode on the right arm of Cortney Peters."

The game was pretty even up to 11-11. Peters went on a roll, hammered down four kills and the Outlaws went on an 11-4 run to take game four.

At the end of the fourth game the match was deadlocked 2-2 and a fifth game to 15 would be played to decide the match.

The Outlaws found themselves down several times in game five and at very critical moments.

"When you're down 8-4, 14-13, 15-14 and 16-15," said Crosby, "the math says you don't win unless something special happens. We had special players make special plays at special moments."

Stephanie Pledger made a save when she ran into the referee stand to keep the ball in play.

With Sisters down 16-15, Brianna Wellman got a kill to tie the game at 16-16. Cascade served into the net and the Lady Outlaws took a 17-16 advantage. Wellman served an ace to cap the victory at 18-16.

As a team the Lady Outlaws served 92 percent going 101 for 109 at the service line.

Crosby was very pleased with the defensive efforts of Kelsey Gillespie, Molly VanAcker, Brittany Reed and Krystal Fitter.

"None of these kids are full- time starters but they are role players and our heartbeat in the back row," said Crosby. "Each one played an amazing match and I think Kelsey had her best match of the season.

"Molly came in and had some great digs for us. Brittany passed well and served strong and Krystal was everywhere. I challenged Krystal to scoot up into the heavy hitting of Cascade's big player and she did a great job."

Crosby said, "I was just thinking that as a team we've had a lot of emotion and a lot of crying lately. It was good to stick together as a team and celebrate with the girls the biggest win of their high school careers."

Mackinzie McClain and Kelsey Gillespie were thrilled.

"It was unbelievable!" said McClain. "It was so exciting because none of us had ever been on a team that's won league."

Gillespie said, "We all just came together as a team. All the girls are just so awesome! We just fed off each other. Our adrenaline was so high and we were playing with so much emotion. It was a great way to end our last home volleyball game and our senior year."