Lady Tigers make short work of Lady Jacks

Ephrata defeated Quincy in three games

QUINCY — The Lady Jacks played tough volleyball but could not stop the scoring of the Lady Tigers.

"We haven't played a game in a week," said Quincy coach Jeannie Brindle. "It was good to get back in the swing of things."

Brindle's squad came out playing solid volleyball in the first game.

Stephanie Keller got things started for the Lady Jacks, putting together a small scoring run at the beginning of the game, before siding out.

Then Ephrata's Britney Ratigan stepped behind the service line and served three consecutive points, putting her team up 7-3 giving up the serve.

Quincy and Ephrata traded side outs and points for most of the game.

Quincy's Lauren Huxtable stepped behind the line to serve three points and bring her team within one with the help of a kill from Leigh-Ann Huxtable.

Ephrata's Kellee Neal helped her team begin to pull away on the next service possession. Neal's three serves were enough to give Ephrata the lead for good.

Jennifer Bair served out the game for Ephrata with four straight points to make it 24-15 before siding out.

Allison Schaapman served the final point for Quincy before the Lady Jacks sided out to give Ephrata the 17-25 win.

"They (Quincy) came out a played scrappy (volleyball)," said Ephrata coach Kim Crown. "It was good."

In game two, Ephrata jumped out to a 7-0 lead with Courtney Webb serving.

The first service possession set the tone for the rest of the game and Ephrata continued to dominate.

Ephrata's Casey Tate served four consecutive points, including two aces, to extend the Lady Tiger's lead 17-6 before Ephrata sided out.

The Lady Tigers sided out on a game point and Quincy's Manda Brindle stepped behind the line for the Lady Jacks.

Manda Brindle served a valiant four points, including one ace, before Quincy sided out to give Ephrata the 13-25 victory.

"They played more together," said coach Brindle of her team.

Ephrata's overpowering scoring continued in game three with Webb scoring four points to begin the game for the Lady Tigers.

Again, each team traded points and side outs before Ephrata's Holly Hutchinson stepped behind the line late in the game.

Hutchinson scored just three service points but they were enough to help the Lady Tigers pull away from the Lady Jacks one final time.

Following Quincy's next side out, Bair served another three points to put Ephrata up 15-6.

Neal added another six points to the efforts of her teammates, making the score 24-9 before siding out.

Quincy regained possession for one final push, with Keller scoring the Lady Jacks' final point of the night.

The Lady Jacks sided out and Ephrata got the 11-25 win.

"We had a slow start but we picked it up," said Crown.

Brindle was 10 of 10 serving with two aces and six assists for the Lady Jacks. Aaryn Aliment had one assist for Quincy. Leigh-Ann Huxtable had three kills for Quincy.

"I'm expecting good volleyball the next couple of matches," said coach Brindle.

The Lady Jacks take on Omak at home Saturday and begin districts next week.

For Ephrata, Webb was 15 of 15 serving with two aces and 21 assists. Tate had three aces. Hutchinson was 9 of 11 serving with nine kills and five blocks. Ratigan was 9 of 10 serving with six digs and six kills. Neal was 13 of 15 serving with six kills. Emily Lewellyn had five kills and seven digs.

"I feel like it was a full team effort," said Crown. "We don't have one go-to person."

Ephrata hosts Cascade Saturday and begins competing at districts next week.