October 7, 2004

SPORTS

Volleyball team improves to 9–6

Evin Wimberly going up for a spike during the Lady Bulldogs’ win last Thursday.

By Lauren Heaton and
Diane Chiddister

With Katy McEvoy scuttling under deep stray balls, Megan Lents slapping them down at the net and Evin Wimberly heading surprise returns, Jefferson didn’t stand a chance against the Lady Bulldogs, who beat the Broncos, 3–1, last Thursday at home.

The Lady Bulldogs’ steady serves and control of the ball put the Broncos off balance from the start and kept them on the defensive. Yellow Springs dug deep and talked often on the returns, working Jefferson’s unpredictable serves systematically from the back of the court to the net for the put away.

Niquelle Orr and Ashley Jackson blocked several of the Broncos’ attempted spikes, helping the Lady ’Dogs keep a comfortable 10-point lead throughout the first game, which the Lady Bulldogs won 25–16.

Yellow Springs set the pace and kept the pressure on the Broncos through the second game with quick, low serves. The home team took the second game, 25–15.

By the third game, Yellow Springs let up enough to let Jefferson in the door, and the Broncos seized their opportunity. The Broncos took their first lead of the evening at 6–5, just as the Lady Bulldogs, starting to look worried, hit several balls in the net. The score stayed tight as Jefferson stepped up with more aggressive play and better court coverage. The Lady Bulldogs lost control of the ball and eventually gave up the game, 25–22.

With the Lady ’Dogs anxious to put away a third game, coach Shirley Martin gave the team a pep talk and sent them out to finish the job.

The ‘Dogs played steadily, throwing the Broncos off when Lent served eight-straight points. At 24–17 Jefferson saved a match point with a strong return on a low jump serve from Wimberly. But the following point, Orr tipped the ball back from the top of the net and watched it roll to the Broncos’ side for the win.

Earlier in the week on Monday, Sept. 27, the Lady Bulldogs shut out Middletown Christian at home, 25–20, 25–5 and 25–23. Outstanding work in both offense and defense and great rallies contributed to the win, Martin said. Led by high scorers Wimberly and Orr, all of the girls scored.

On Sept. 29, the Lady Bulldogs met their match and lost to Cedarville 25–14, 25–16 and 25–8. The Lady Bulldogs had trouble handling the Indians’ deep, hard spikes.

Martin credited Olivia Dixon, Ashlee Jackson, Lents, Orr and Wimberly with great blocking.

Volleyball fans witnessed an exciting match on Oct. 4, when the Lady Bulldogs lost to Xenia Christian in a close home game, 26–28, 25–13, 26–24 and 25–22.

Fans were on the edge of their seats gasping for air as Yellow Springs fought a hard fight all the way through.

Martin said that she was “most proud of how the ladies played.” Jackson and Lents were the high scorers, and Wimberly and Allie Robles provided excellent ball handling.

The Lady Bulldogs are now 9–6.

Sports Round up

Compiled by Diane Chiddister

Girls soccer beats Miami Valley

In a much anticipated rematch Saturday, Yellow Springs beat the Miami Valley School, 4–1.

The Lady Bulldogs are now 7–2–2.

Stakes were high going into the game, since last year Miami Valley walloped Yellow Springs 9–0, and in an early game this season edged out the Lady Bulldogs, 5–4.

“The Lady Bulldogs were determined not to let that happen again,” coach MacKenzie Reynolds said. “We were ready from the first whistle.”

The Lady Bulldog defense shut down many of Miami Valley’s scoring attempts, then quickly put the ball at the feet of the awaiting offensive line. Goals were scored by Emily Foubert, Erin Silvert-Noftle and Laura Garcia. Silvert-Noftle also had 2 assists, and Tricia McLinden had an assist.

Goalie Lila Jensen made 3 saves, and Jennifer Smith and McLinden each made non-goalie saves.

“The team played the best they have ever played together,” Reynolds said. “Every player from the defense up to the front line, and the bench, made this win possible.”

Boys soccer wins one, ties one

Saturday’s game between Yellow Springs and the Miami Valley School brought together the Dayton area’s two top-rated Division III boys teams, with Yellow Springs ranked first and Miami Valley second. The rivals tied at 3, and the Bulldogs held on to their top-ranked position in the Metro Buckeye Conference.

The Rams took the lead on a goal just one minute into the game.

Seven minutes later the score was evened when Duncan Silvert-Noftle was taken down in the penalty box and drew a penalty kick, which he put just inside the left post. Four minutes later, Mike Hosket heaved a long throw-in to the Rams’ goalie box. The ball was deflected into the goal, giving the Bulldogs a 2–1 lead.

However, before the half, the Rams scored twice, taking the lead 3–2.

Several minutes into the second half Hosket was called for a foul and ejected from the game, forcing the Bulldogs to play the rest of the game a man down.

The ’Dogs rose to the challenge and not only shut down the Rams’ offense but kept up a relentless pressure that finally paid off with eight minutes remaining when Ben Armstrong finished a dropped shot by Silvert-Noftle.

Last Thursday, the Bulldogs hosted Ridgeville Christian and proceeded to walk all over the team, winning 7–0. Goals were scored by Brandon Carver-Halley, Scott Keyes, Silvert-Noftle, Jeremy Upton and Armstrong.

All in all, the Dogs played a “flawless” game, coach Jim Hardman said.

The Bulldogs are now 7–1–1 overall, 4–0–1 in the MBC and are ranked fourth in the state in Division III.

Harriers race to third place

The YSHS boys cross country team placed 3rd out of 22 teams Saturday at the Buck Creek Invitational in Springfield. The Bulldogs’ third place finish was keyed by the performances of Sam Borchers and David Warren, who finished first and second, respectively, in the field of 152 runners.

Miamisburg won the meet with 88 points, followed by Greenon (94) and the Bulldogs (96).

Both Borchers and Warren broke the 17-minute barrier for the first time this year. Borchers ran a lifetime best 16:36 and Warren finished in 16:52, another lifetime best.

Two other Yellow Springs runners made it into the top 15, as Andy Peters placed sixth overall, in 17:22, breaking the YSHS freshman record he established earlier in the year. Carey Dixon placed 11th, with his fastest time of the year, 17:30. Sophomore Andy Sontag finished 95th overall in 20:31, two places ahead of Ben Adams, who finished in a lifetime best time of 20:36. Finishing out the Bulldog performances were Matthew Marretta, who finished 113th, Matt Halm, 117th, and Zack Reichert, 130th.

The YSHS girls cross country team placed 17th at the Buck Creek Invitational. Tina Peters placed 24th in 21:20. She was followed by Rosa Dixon (91st), Tina Chen (107th), Rebecca Guest (114th) and Danielle Doubt (116th). Dixon and Guest both finished in lifetime best times, and Peters and Chen had season-best performances.

Schedule changes

Several changes have been made to coming YSHS games.

The girls soccer home match against Troy Christian on Saturday, Oct. 9, has been moved from noon to 2 p.m. The team’s contest against Middletown Christian on Tuesday, Oct. 12, will start at 5 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.

The boys soccer team’s match against Middletown Christian has been moved to Middletown. The match will get underway at 5 p.m., instead of 7 p.m., as originally scheduled.

YSHS Homecoming to honor 1973 Bulldogs

As part of the Homecoming activities on Friday, Oct. 15, Yellow Springs High School will recognize the 1973 football team. All players, coaches, cheerleaders and founders of the football program in Yellow Springs are invited to participate.

The ’73 Bulldogs went 10–0.

The day’s schedule is as follows: 4:30 p.m., pregame meal with the current football team; 7:15, pregame ceremony; 10:30 p.m., postgame reception in the YSHS cafeteria.

For more information, call coach Jerome Crosswhite, 767-7232, or YSHS Principal John Gudgel, 767-7224.