Hawks make Lytle Pirates walk the Plank in Sweep

Canyon Lake Volleyball team sent Lytle off the plank with a resounding three game sweep in the Varsity game as well as two, two game sweeps in the Freshman and Junior Varsity game.

The Freshman girls spotted the Pirates a 6-1 lead to start the first game and then only gave up three more points for the game as only five girls were called on to serve.

Caitlin Mabry was the player that sent the Pirates in a tailspin with 11 serving points and six of those points being scored on aces.

In the second game Mabry kept up that pace with nine more points serving and another five aces.

“Really working hard in practice,” Mabry stated.

On whether she was tired after serving so much, “Tired? Not really.”

Riley Bigler was also playing at a high level for the game.

“We are trying to stay as a team and working on talking,” Bigler said after explaining how the team started the first game by spotting the Pirates a five point lead.

On how she plans to improve this season, “I will be trying to get my serves over and not letting the ball hit the ground…I also want to improve getting good sets.”

Canyon Lake Freshman seem to be in control in this game, but in a couple of weeks, District 27-3A will be starting up and the Hawks will need to be at their best when those teams come knocking on the door.

Freshman:
Canyon Lake won 25-9 and 25-10.

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The Hawks JV had a solid performance as they also took control of the Pirates winning, 25-9 and 25-19.

“The high point for the game tonight was how we started working on our consistency, we still need to get better and we will get their,” Head JV Coach Leigh Ann Weaver said.

Canyon Lake started late in this set of games also as Lytle started both games getting up 4-1 in the first game and in the second contest, CL did not take the lead until a Hannah Wunderlich kill giving the Hawks a 17-16 lead.

“We keep improving each week,” Freshman Wunderlich served. “Sometimes we were lacking at the beginning.”

That seemed to be the only part of their game needing work as CL controlled this contest convincingly.

Canyon Lake has three freshman playing on the Junior Varsity.

“I’m enjoying playing on the JV, I have been with these girls since the 7th grade…I love playing with them,” Wunderlich finished.

Another Freshman that seemed to be digging everything that came her way during the game was Bailey Drum.

“We have a problem with mental toughness,” Drum said while responding to the slow starts. “I think we underestimated them (Lytle).”

Drum was not only digging everything in her Area Code, but also was nails at the net. When asked what she likes the best, her answer was quick and said with resolve, “I like the net, because it makes you feel powerful.”

Feeling powerful would be a good description of how this Junior Varsity took control of this Pirate team

Another part of the Hawk’s game was in their serves.

Wunderlich has already developed a good jump serve, “I have been practicing that type of serve since the 8th grade. I have an Aunt who Coaches at East Central and she got the jump serve in my head.”

The future certainly looks good for this group of young ladies.

Come out and give them a look, they will have you walking the plank and the only thing you will need to make sure you can swim.

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Canyon Lake Varsity did not let up on the pedal as they also took care of Lytle in much the same way as the other squads did.

The Hawks swept the Pirates, 25-13, 25-7, 25-20.

Another Freshman was involved with this victory. Halley McKnight was the service queen as she had a 12 point serve in the second game which turned the 2-1 game into a route with a 14-2 lead when everything was said and done.

“I’m just trying to get over and trying to miss the Libero,” Freshman McKnight started. “Playing on varsity is different because the game is faster, but I just need to be more consistent in my setting.”

Speaking of setting, Senior Katie Williams has been a late addition to that part of her game.

“She’s (Williams) a force because she can attack the ball from the back line,” Head Coach Nicole Creek said.

Canyon Lake has had a problem in starting slowly in the past few games and Coach Creek was pleased with how the Hawks took no prisoners in this set of games.

“We started strong with game one and two,” Creek surmised. “From the beginning we took control.”

Williams finished with 17 digs and added five service aces.

“Coach has us practicing and I have gotten a lot better with my service and receiving…just lots of practice,” Williams said.

When commenting on how she reacted when Coach Creek moved her to this new position on the back row, “I was nervous when I was passing.”

After watching this game, the nervousness might be a thing of the past as Williams will now have the back row as well as the net to exact her will no the opposing teams.

This Pirate team left the Hawk Gym with a patch over both eyes, you might want to check and be sure they made it home safely.

Stats: Canyon Lake (13-11) wins 25-13, 25-7, 25-20
Kills: 15 Amber Ramsey, 7 Marisa Ellis
Assists: 17 Marisa Ellis, 9 Halley McKnight
Blocks: 2 Amber Ramsey
Digs: 17 Katie Williams
Aces: 7 Halley McKnight, 5 Katie Williams