After a disappointing loss to conference rival Nixa Tuesday, when Republic volleyball lost its first two sets to Webb City (21-3-1) Thursday, coach Allison Davis challenged her team.
“I told them, ‘We can fold and we can just walk out of this gym with our heads down, or we can do whatever it takes right now. We’re a winning team, and it’s time for us to show it and put it into action.”
They put into action, big-time. Republic stormed all the way back, winning three consecutive sets and knocking off the Cardinals in five: 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 16-14. The nature of the win is indicative of the team’s personality, according to Davis.
“These girls work hard all the time. They just don’t give up,” she said. “Yes, we’ve lost some games that I’d love to re-do, but then you have them come out here and they just fight and they play their guts out, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
After losing two close sets, Republic grabbed an early lead in the third. But after building a 21-16 lead, they saw Webb City score five consecutive points to tie the score. The Lady Tigers regrouped and won four of the next five points to pull within 2-1.
They trailed by as many as four points early in the fourth set, but gradually climbed into the lead. When Rilynn Finley powered a booming cross-court kill to make the score 20-17, it paved the way for Republic to pull even at two sets apiece.
“When we came back that third set, they got a little bit more energy,” Davis said of her team. “Then when we won that fourth set, I could tell mentally Webb City was shutting down just a little bit, so we really took that to our advantage. And we got a whole other energy starting that fifth set, and I thought, ‘We are gonna get this.'”
Davis has talked since the start of the season about needing a big win over a power opponent for her program to take the next step ahead, and Thursday’s win fits that category.
“This gives us the confidence that we needed to move forward. We’ve got another big week, and I feel like this game gives us a ton of confidence finishing out the rest of our regular season and moving into districts.”
Finley’s 17 kills led the Lady Tigers, and she also tied Kailey Manes for the team lead in digs, with 20. Manes, Claire Esther, and Alaina Norman each contributed two service aces. Addison Fanning had three blocks and Brooklyn Claxton distributed 30 assists.
Republic improves to 22-9. The Lady Tigers are at Branson next Tuesday.
