March 29, 2024

Lenox trounces Murray

Tigers head to Afton for Monday showdown with East Union

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MURRAY —Lenox's volleyball team has been feeling pretty good about itself as of late, and that continues in the Tigers' Tuesday night victory at Murray.

Lenox (8-16) defeated Murray (9-16) in three consecutive sets by scores of 25-12, 25-22 and 25-22 in the Class 1A Region 3 opener.

The Tigers will play at East Union in Afton on Monday for a shot to advance to the regional semifinals to be played in Afton.

"It has been  good at the end of the season to see the girls come together and gel as a team and probably above all else, that’s what I’ve liked the most about this team, that they do spread it out themselves and they’re all rock stars," Lenox coach Sara Dukes said.

Lenox looked at ease for much of the night, applying pressure to the Mustangs early. Tied 5-5 in the first set, the Tigers cranked out 14 of the next 15 points mainly off of the serving of Shantelle Brown and Jacy Stoaks.

Brown went 16-of-17 on serves with four aces.

Murray mounted a 4-0 rally late in the set, but Lenox snuffed that out with strong net play led by Hannah Davis to win the first set.

The second and third sets were more intensely fought, but the Tigers made the necessary adjustments.

"We’ve definitely become more resilient all the way around," Dukes said. "We’ve been able to not hang our chin so much and be able to play other people. That’s a big step."

The two squads traded blows in the second, with Murray taking a 19-16 lead late. The Tigers rattled off the next seven points off the serve of Brown and some Murray mistakes and went on to win the set for a 2-0 lead.

Murray mounted a 7-1 run to get back into a set it trailed for much of the third, and even tied things up 18-18. Stoaks and Davis responded for the Tigers with a kill and and a block on consecutive possessions. Up 20-18, Murray scratched out one last run to go up 22-20, but Lenox won the last five points of the match after Dukes called a timeout.

Davis led the way with 10 kills and Stoaks added five on Lenox's way to 24 kills as a team. Katelyn Belding led the Tigers in assists, 13, and digs, 17.

Murray struggled once again and lost in what ended up being the last volleyball match of the careers of seven seniors.

"That was probably the biggest thing that let us down tonight was our defense and our serving," Murray coach Jerry Shields said.

Kayla Siefkas had three kills and four blocks for the Mustangs. Katie Otto had a 9-9 serving performance on a night that Murray served 52-of-55. She also added three kills.

More than a few tears were shed at the end of the evening.

Brandi Gilbert finished her high school career with 1,358 assists after posting five assists Tuesday.

Gilbert, Scarlet Dustin, Siefkas Otto, Meghan Gould, Patricia Cena and Victoria Palma played their last games as Mustang volleyball players.

"Most of these seniors have played the last couple of years, Brandi (Gilbert) this is her third year as a setter. We’re going to miss her a great year," Shields said. "A lot of our kids are role-players for us and that’s kind of what they’ve had to do for us. They’re definitely going to be missed."

Uncertainty will reign heading into next season for Murray.

"Basically every spot is going to be open next year," Shields said.

As for Lenox, another opportunity awaits.