August 24th: Volleyball Rises to the Occasion, but Falls in Five Sets

BY: ELI SMITH

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

The Volleyball team started the season with four road games, which began in Tell City on the 15th of August with the Lady Pioneers coming up on top in 5 sets. 

The girls then traveled to Gibson Southern and Forest park for their next game and fell short, before going to South Spencer Wednesday, August 24th and winning in straight sets. 

No time to celebrate and recover from that win because they were right back in action the following day, for their home opener against Southridge. This game was anticipated by not just the players, but also by the students as many came out to support the girls in the pajama themed student section. The Pioneers came out hot taking an early lead in the first set, while really getting the student section involved in the atmosphere of the game. The Raiders clawed back and made it close at the end of the set before dropping it to the Pioneers. 

Lady Pioneers came out hot in the second set taking an early 10-4 lead. The momentum then shifted back to the Raiders as they took the lead and never looked back and took the second and third set from the Pioneers. Boonville was now in a must win situation in the fourth set of the night. The fourth set was most definitely the most intense of them all as both teams went back and forth the entire set. Boonville was given a good chance to win the set after a good run that opened the scoring gap between the teams. 

At the beginning of the Fourth set, momentum was taken back by the girls and the very big and loud student section. Setting up an absolutely crazy final set,the winner takes all. Southridges came out hot in the 5th set taking a 6 point lead in the first to 15 final set. The Lady Pioneers closed the gap making it 12-10 Southridge, with Boonville serving. 

Although the Lady Pioneers ended up dropping 3 of the next five points and falling 15-12 in the final set. Junior playmaker Gracie Newton said, “It was a tough game but our team played really well together, and the fans kept up good energy through the entire game which was really encouraging.”

Even though they lost, it was a very exciting game and showed that this year’s Volleyball team has a really good chance to compete and do something really good this season.