BY: JILLIAN MILLER
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
On Thursday, August 25th, the Lady Pioneers took on the Lady Raiders of Southridge High School. The theme was PJ Night, and the student section was packed with flannel pants, slippers, and school spirit. The bleachers were packed, and the attendees were ready to cheer on the ladies in their home opener for the 2022 season.
In the first set, the Pioneers got off to a slow start but stepped it up; eventually tying it up late in the set. The team made some smart plays, especially Jess Duncan with a tip that landed right behind the block, and a swing from Gracie Newton that bounced in front of the ten-foot line. Despite their efforts, the ladies couldn’t pull off the comeback, losing set one 24-26.
The next set was a completely different story, however. Boonville came out strong, immediately going on a 10-4 run, and the student section was hype! Kills by freshmen Emily Parker and Taylor Johnson led the girls to a 25-20 win to tie the game at a set a piece.
The momentum was in favor of the Pioneers after the second set, but unfortunately that energy was short lived, and after a few kills from Lady Raiders, the Pioneers got behind early. Some missed serves and hitting errors allowed for Southridge to keep building on to their lead. The Pioneers did not give up though, battling back to keep the score within five for the most part. But the scoring deficit grew in favor of the Raiders, eventually leading them to a demanding 25-17 win in set three.
Set four was crucial for the Pioneers. If they didn’t win this set, it would be a victory for the Raiders. But, much like set two, the Pioneers were ready to go, absolutely demolishing the Raiders for a good chunk of the set. Serve receive was spot on, Sky Williamson’s serves were unreturnable, blocks were closed, and Ali Ward got in on the action with some beautiful swings that led to kills.The Raiders were helpless as they watched the Pioneers take set four 25-17.
Set five was the most intense set of the night. Southridge won the coin flip, so they got to serve to the Pioneers, and Boonville struggled to return the serves. The Raiders got off to a sizable lead, and it was looking like Boonville was running out of hope. However, a timeout got the Pioneers back on track, and the student section was right behind them with unmatched energy. The game was back and forth for a few points, but some unfortunate hitting errors put the Raiders on top eventually, winning set five 15-12 and the game 3-2.
Ward, who recorded multiple digs and kills, explained, “Going five sets is exciting, although I wish we could’ve pulled out the win… These early season matches are only preparing us for the end of the season stretch.”
The Pioneers battled and all-around put on a good showing, setting the precedent for what’s to come for this season.
The Pioneer Online 
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