Lady Gladiators continue to improve as they prepare for district play
The Italy Lady Gladiators volleyball team has a chance to be as indestructible as the dome-nasium they compete in. (Barry Byers)
After winning three straight sets against Waxahachie Advantage, and after winning three straight sets against Mildred (25-19, 25-15, 25-21) the Italy Lady Gladiators seemed to be on top of their game until the Palmer Lady Bulldogs visited the Gladiator dome-nasium this past Friday sending Lady Gladiator head coach Heather Richters back to the drawing board.
Palmer stunned Italy in the first set with a 25-16 win. The Lady Gladiators regrouped and won the next two sets (25-19,25-21) to take a 2-1 advantage, needing to win just one set to add to their two game win streak. Palmer never wavered, however, and continued to play volleyball winning the next set and tying the match 2-2.
The pressure was back on the Lady Gladiators to find a way to be victorious on their home court but the Lady Bulldogs overcame Italy’s early 3-0 lead in the fifth set to win 15-9 and claim the overall game, 3 sets to 2. It’s in the fifth set that Italy has had their biggest struggles this preseason, struggling to put away teams in the tiebreakers.
If Coach Richters and her talented team can repair that one tiny dent in their armor, the sky will be the limit for our Lady Gladiators in 2011. Seniors Jimesha Reed, Bailey Bumpus, Kaitlyn Rossa and Megan Richards are the pillars that team Italy rests their hopes on. Juniors Jameka Copeland and Alyssa Richards, along with freshmen Bailey Eubank, Madison Washington and Jaclynn Lewis, play vital roles, as well, helping to round out this impressive group of athletes.
In hopes of getting back on track and determined to get back in the win column, the Lady Gladiators took a short trip next door to Avalon on Tuesday and made quick work of the Lady Eagles, once again winning in three sets. So, looking at the math, the Lady Gladiators have won 11 out of their last 14-sets and have beaten 3 out of their last 4 opponents. Italy’s last two game losses have both come down to the fifth game tiebreaker. In other words, the Lady Gladiators are on the verge of being really special. In fact, Italy’s ladies are right on the line of being a dominating volleyball squad.
Go Lady Gladiators!