Ephrata sweeps Wapato

by Pam ROBEL<br>Herald Sports Editor
| October 6, 2006 9:00 PM

Lady Tigers play tough against Wolves

EPHRATA — The Lady Tigers weathered some early scoring runs from Wapato during their 3-game sweep of the Lady Wolves Thursday.

"We let some people play," said head coach Kim Crown. "Everybody got time tonight."

Britney Ratigan led the attack for Ephrata earning 11 kills, two aces and five digs in three games. Her first kill came during Sarah Thomas' serving.

"Britney had kind of an off night tonight," Crown said. "She's been playing well, she's been playing strong."

Thomas served five points to put Ephrata up 7-1 over Wapato in the first game.

The Lady Wolves battled back to within two before Ratigan earned another kill to return serve to Ephrata.

Ratigan served two points to keep Ephrata ahead and had her serving followed up by three consecutive points from Lexi Lange. Lange's serving put the Lady Tigers up 17-9 before Wapato earned a sideout.

Ephrata's final scoring surge came off the serving of Casey Tate, who earned three points for Ephrata in her last stint behind the line, making it 21-11.

Both teams traded sideouts and then Breanne Duff served out the match for a 25-13 final.

"We haven't had too many games (where everyone could play) lately," Crown said. "We've been playing some tough teams lately."

In game two, Wapato jumped out to an early 5-2 lead before the run was stopped by a kill from Thomas.

Ephrata then started to battle back, tying the game at seven with serving from Duff before Wapato regained the lead on an Ephrata sideout.

"Breanne is playing well," Crown said.

The Lady Tigers' next possession saw Ephrata take the lead on serving from Ratigan. Ratigan had help from Lange who earned a kill to win Ephrata's ninth point of the game.

The Lady Wolves regained the lead with two possessions to keep the game close and force Ephrata head coach Kim Crown to take a time out.

After the time out, Ephrata briefly regained the serve but quickly relinquished it.

Wapato continued to push their advantage, going up 17-14 on Ephrata before Ratigan earned a kill to give serve back to the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Wolves continued to play tough. Ratigan earned her final kill of the game to return serve to Ephrata.

Duff stepped behind the line to serve the match to a tie at 21. Wapato earned their final point on Ephrata's sideout and could not maintain serve.

Ratigan served out the match that concluded when Briana Moser snuck a tip past the Wapato defense.

The final game of the night was similar to the second, with Wapato jumping out to an 8-3 lead before Ephrata earned a sideout on a kill from Ratigan.

The Lady Tigers pulled ahead to take a 15-11 lead with serving from Lange and never trailed again.

Duff gave Ephrata their final scoring push, earning four consecutive points on serve, including two aces.

Ratigan sealed the match with her final kill of the night to give Ephrata a 25-17 victory.

Duff had four kills, two blocks, 20 assists and was 14-for-15 serving with four aces. Moser earned five kills and three blocks. Thomas had five blocks, five kills and two aces. Lange was 13-for-13 serving with three aces.

As a team the Lady Tigers had 12 aces and 28 kills.