Lady Knights battle for win at home

Royal goes five games for first league win

ROYAL CITY — The Lady Knights battled out a five game win against Walla Walla Valley Academy (WWVA) Tuesday.

Mackenzee Brown and Kali Delgado led the charge for the Lady Knights.

WWVA began the fifth game with the serve but had an immediate side out to give Royal the first point of the game and possession of the serve.

Delgado served three straight points for Royal and forced WWVA to call a time-out.

After the time-out Delgado sided out and gave WWVA their first point of the match.

The next two possessions were ended with one point side outs on both sides of the net.

WWVA served four straight points after a side out by Royal to bring the score to WWVA 6, Royal 5. WWVA then had a side out of their own to tie up the score.

"The three missed serves made the difference," said coach Paul Olsufka.

The game, and points, went back and forth until Delgado came up to serve again. Delgado gave her team a one point advantage that was stretched to two for the 15-13 win by Joelle Herrud.

"We have been talking a lot about how critical it is to make serves," said Olsufka.

From the first serve of game one, it was fairly evenly matched, with WWVA winning the first game 25-21.

In the second game it was Delgado who came up big for her team — she served 11 straight points before siding out.

A few servers later, Brown added three serves, including an ace, to Royal's excellent serving.

Royal's Jenni Janett would serve the final point of the second game before Royal won it on a side out, 25-13.

Game three proved to be a closer match, with the volleys and side outs bouncing from one team to the other quickly and with no major scoring runs.

Royal's Shaylene Anderson had the biggest service run of the third game with three consecutive serves, including one ace.

The Lady Knights battled it out and won the game 25-22.

Game four was Royal's second loss of the match and forced the fifth game.

Royal had no answer for WWVA's serving in the fourth game of the match, allowing eight straight service points after a side out.

"It's stressful to go five games," said Olsufka. "But it's good for later on."

Delgado ended the night with 16 assists and was 39 of 39 serving. Brown had 15 assists, 17 kills and was 15 of 16 serving. Herrud had three kills and nine blocks.

"I'm pleased with our hitting. We're making better decisions about when to go up and get it and when to stay on the ground," said Olsufka. "We're young, still developing. Hopefully the nine that we have right now will gel."