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Kremmling " West Grand netters dominate South Park to go 6-1

Larry Banman
Sky-Hi Daily News

The volleyball team from West Grand High School improved its season record to 6-1 with a 25-16, 25-11, 22-25, 25-10, win over the South Park Burros in the first home match of the season for the Lady Mustangs.

The loss of the third game was an aberration in an evening in which the outcome of the match never seemed in doubt.

The Mustangs utilized strong hitting from Danette Billington, Brook Cecil, Rose Hargadine and Renea Ellison to earn the victory. Melissa Kraker and Katie Keck also provided some timely hitting, and Hargadine was a constant defensive presence at the net and had several blocks in the contest.



Ellison and Alyse Billington shared the setting duties throughout the match and Alyse was also effective with her serves during the game. Cecil and Danette Billington provided some spark with their jump serves throughout the evening.

The first game of the match was tied at seven points when Cecil nailed a kill to start a mini-rally. While Cecil was serving, the Mustangs ran off three points, punctuated by a Kraker kill on a good set by Ellison. West Grand held the lead for the remainder of the game and pulled away to win by nine points.



The teams were again deadlocked at seven points apiece in the second game when Cecil again ignited a rally with two consecutive kills. Hargadine followed with two service aces and Danette Billington nailed two kills of her own. As the Mustang attack continued, Kraker and Danette Billington added kills and Hargadine registered another ace.

After South Park scored a point on a service error, Danette Billington got the service back for West Grand with a kill and Alyse Billington served two aces to give the Mustangs a commanding 21-9 lead on the way to the second-game victory.

The third game of the match wasn’t a particularly clean one and the Burros from South Park were just scrappy enough to earn the three-point win.

That win by South Park did provide one benefit. It allowed the Mustangs to regroup a bit and play perhaps their best volleyball of the night. The final game was a display of offensive and defensive dominance for West Grand.

Billington and Hargadine were particularly dominating with their net play as they registered kills and blocks.

The penultimate point of the evening went in favor of West Grand after a great rally by both teams. Hargadine had an apparent kill that was dug out successfully by a South Park player. Unfortunately for the Burros, the save went right back to Hargadine who hit the floor with her next hit.

The match was over on the next serve when the South Park return of serve fell harmlessly into the net.

On Saturday, West Grand traveled to Colbran to play a league contest against the Plateau Valley Cowboys.


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