Lady Knights in first place after beating Warriors
|
Game One was not very competitive as the Lady Knights won 25-8 in about thirteen minutes. Both teams had serves which hit the net but Annapolis’ were more costly. Leading Game Two by ten points, CLA watched Annapolis come back to within three scores (17-14) before racing out to win 25-15.
Lady Knights Head Coach Jesse Gutierrez used his team’s two game lead to give some of his bench players a little court time in Game Three. CLA trailed early in the third contest but eventually erased their deficit to win 25-13.
“I put in my second team in during the third match just so they can get some game experience,” Coach Gutierrez said afterwards. “We fell a little behind but the first team came in there and played together as they have been doing and I am very proud of the way we came through today.”
On the roster this season are Crystal Love, April Holcomb, Sarah Love, Jessica Gutierrez, Becky Gutierrez, Deidre Storm, Jessica Clowdus, Olivia Guevara, Nikki Herrera, Bianca Silva and Erica Espinoza. Assisting Coach Gutierrez is Keren Love.
Prior to Annapolis, the Lady Knights swept another opponent and captured a tournament crown.
“We went to Robstown (a few weeks ago) and played another best three-out-of-five series and beat them three matches straight,” Gutierrez said. “Then we went to (a tournament in) Benavides, won all of our games and took first place.”
Holcomb received the Most Valuable Player award at the Benavides tournament. Silva and B. Gutierrez were recognized as alternates for the same award. Before that, the Lady Knights halted a losing slide in time to take second place at another tourney.
“Our girls played excellent games during the Aransas Pass tournament,” Gutierrez said. “We lost the first and second game but then we went back the Saturday of that week and won all four games.”
With only one way to go when you sit at the top, Gutierrez is still refining his team’s quickness.
“In our division right now we stand in first place,” he said. “In order to improve as a team we need to move our feet more and just watch where the holes are at.”
The Lady Knight’s success has happened because of their ability to play as a star team rather than as a team of stars.
“They play together as a group and as a team,” Gutierrez said. “Spirit-wise they keep their attitudes in real good position.”
Christian Life Academy was scheduled to play at Premont this past Friday before traveling to C.C. Annapolis for a rematch this Tuesday.