Hawks Sweep Greyhounds for 14th Straight District Win
Canyon Lake Volleyball started where they left off last year in district play as the Hawks ran their streak to 14 wins in a row after sweeping Boerne, 3-0.
“Ever since last Tuesday night we have been having stellar practices,” Head Coach Kim Paisley stated. “We had a good film session and we were energized all night and did not let up.”
The Hawks took the first two sets with little resistance after, 25-15 and 25-16 victories. Then the 3rd set interjected a bit more drama as the Greyhounds started to find their stride as they rounded the corner on the track.
CL increased their lead to a 6 point advantage, 18-12 and seemed poised to finish off a district foe that swept
the Hawks 3 years ago when both teams competed in the same district. Then the Greyhounds started their sprint with 6 straight points to tie the set, 18-18.
For many good teams the most important player will be the setter as that player is the one that sets up the hitters and the Hawks have had a stellar player for 4 years now in Regan Mickey.
“Tonight I got my revenge since they beat us twice when I was a freshman,” Mickey said. “It was especially good by beating them at their home.”
Enter Anna Bettersworth and Alysha Perez who both had 2 kills a piece to regain the lead and put these dogs to bed. With the 3rd set all knotted up at 22 points the play of the night inflated the Hawks while deflating the Hounds as a perfect set by Regan Mickey to Bettersworth had a kill that quieted the home crowd.
“It all depends on the pass,” Mickey said when recounting when she knew that a set to Bettersworth might spell the Greyhound’s doom. “That kill by Anna helped get our momentum back.”
That hit was almost straight down giving Boerne no chance for a return or a point.
“This was how you make it more intense when you have a perfect play,” Bettersworth said with a glow in her eye. “You start thinking that we are 0-0 in district and we wanted to get our first win and the play made us happy and very excited.”
That hit was an exclamation point to this game as the Hawks were jumping higher and playing a higher level than the home team.
Regan Mickey would score an ace on her next serve and then a weak hit from a Greyhound became an unforced error and district win for Canyon Lake.
Bettersworth would finish the match with a team leading 8 kills and a happy bus ride home.
Perez was one of many Hawks that also raised her play on this night against Boerne. Finishing with 5 kills and surprising the opponent with her jumping ability.
“We knew we were going into district and we wanted to get the job done and get the Gold Ball,” Perez said sternly. That Gold Ball is what the team gets when they win a district championship.
“We needed to think and fight to the end,” Perez closed. “We were not going to let the ball drop.”
Canyon Lake has been on a mission this season as those 10 losses on their resume represents many teams that are a higher classification and those battles will play a big role in how this year’s edition will get through district play.
CL will be back in the Hawk Nest this Friday as the Hondo Owls come to town and another chance of sending a district opponent home with a loss.
This win now has Canyon Lake with a 40-39 district record and that winning record was last seen during the 2011 season.
Go Hawks!!
Game Score: Canyon Lake wins, 25-15, 25-16, and 25-22. Leaders: Kills- Anna Bettersworth 8 Assists- Regan Mickey 17 Digs- Sam York 17 Aces- Anna Bettersworth 2 Faith Hasness 2 Blocks- Anna Bettersworth 1 Paige Bower 1