The Green River Lady Wolves volleyball team took on their biggest rivals and a new team they have never played before and still walked away with two conference wins.
During the Rock Springs game Friday, the Lady Wolves won the first set 25-16, and the second set, 25-20, pretty easily, but struggled with the third set, 20-25, and fourth set, 23-25, losing both. During the fifth set, 15-10, the girls regained their focus and made it to the 15 points before Rock Springs, giving them the conference win.
“I knew it was going to be a tough team,” head coach Rikki Shantz said. “Rock Springs no matter the level of team they have, they always bring their best for us.”
In the third and fourth sets, the girls weren’t as disciplined, and it showed with the two losses.
“I felt confident all five of the games,” Shantz said. “Even though they dropped the two previous sets, I knew they could do it.”
When the Lady Wolves hit the 8 to 9 point mark in the fifth set, they started to pull away from Rock Springs.
Shantz said the girls hit the ball really well, which she attributed to the team’s good defense.
“The first two games our team played the best defense I saw all year,” Shantz said. “If you’re digging balls, you’re creating opportunities for our hitters.”
Beating their biggest rivals helped the team.
“I think our confidence was a little bit boosted,” Shantz said.
On Saturday, the Lady Wolves traveled to Jackson to face a team they had never played before. This year, Jackson was moved to the 4A division, while Riverton moved to the 3A division.
Shantz said they were going to go into the game by doing what they do well; while figuring out Jackson.
The team was tired and had a hard time mentally since they just played Rock Springs the night before.
Shantz said it was just such a quick turn around, that the team had to work hard to focus, but they tried their best and still came away with another conference win.
The Lady Wolves took three of the four sets, 25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 25-30. Shantz was impressed with the Jackson team, especially their defense. She said one of the Jackson defensive players rarely let the ball hit the ground and that got to the Lady Wolves.
“We’ll know what to expect next time we see them,” Shantz said.
Shantz was happy with how the team performed and although they had a great start to the conference-game season, they will face the two toughest teams in the conference this weekend — Natrona County and Kelly Walsh.
Shantz said the girls will have to learn to adjust to the tough schedule this year. Not just with the teams they play, but with the several overnight trips they have on the schedule.
She said even though this year’s schedule is more difficult on the Lady Wolves, she knows it will only make them stronger.
The team will prepare for their upcoming games this week by continuing to work on its defense and serve and receive passing.
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