The Lady Tigers volleyball team kept their hot hand at home. Republic won for the sixth time in the last seven matches, slaying the Pittsburg (Kan.) Dragons in straight sets Monday, 25-21 25-19. It was the home opener for the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers went 5-1 at the Branson Invitational this weekend, and continued to play well Monday night.
“Anytime you can come out 6-2 so early in the season, it’s going to build that confidence, which is something we haven’t had those last two seasons going in,” says coach Piper Wright. “We’ve been mentally tough, but to have that confidence of the…actual tallies on the win side is really important.”
Lauren O’Hara powered the offense for Republic with five kills. Bella Drennan had 15 assists and three service aces.
Defensively, Rachael Combs led the team with five digs against the big hit of Pittsburg’s Taylor Muff, who registered four kills for the Dragons. Lexi Long had one block for Republic.
Wright says the Lady Tigers’ hot start is the result primarily of the team’s attitude.
“Number one, (they’re) encouraging each other and playing selflessly. This group has really done a great job of embracing their roles and being competitive with each other, but still pushing each other and encouraging each other,” Wright says. “We’ve just been trying to serve incredibly aggressively and pass well. Those are our two main goals, and everything else kind of falls under that.”
Republic’s JV team also won in straight sets, 25-11 25-17.
The Lady Tigers are back in action tomorrow when they host Springfield Glendale.
