Lady Gladiators play hard but Frost heats up at home
JV Lady Gladiator, Jozie Perkins(8), gets on a roll while serving against the Frost JV squad. (Barry Byers)
Frost — Italy JV Lady Gladiators tried to chill Frost early after establishing a huge 18-12 lead but the JV Lady Polar Bears clawed their way back into the first set to win 25-23.
Italy coach, Tina Richards, urged her ladies forward and the second set was just as close as the first. Again, the home team came out on top, 27-25, with Frost winning the JV round in 2 straight sets.
Ashlyn Jacinto, Taleyia Wilson, Janae Robertson, Britney Chambers, April Lusk and Jozie Perkins all having a solid outing for Italy’s JV squad as did Elizabeth Garcia, Oleshia Anderson, Alison Pendley, Paige Little and Brooke DeBorde.
The Lady Gladiator varsity girls had an equally tall challenge in trying to find a way to knock Frost from their frozen perch. For the first 2 sets, however, it was all Frost, 25-18, and, 25-11, as Italy clambered to figure out how to put up a fight.
With head coach, Morgan Mathews, keeping her ladies focused, Italy rose to the test and battled back to tie the 3rd set, 24-24. The excitement for Italy’s fans melted quickly, unfortunately, with the Lady Polar Bears scoring the final two points needed to sweep the Lady Gladiators in 3 straight sets, 26-24.
Despite the losses, there were plenty of big plays turned in by the Lady Gladiator starlets with Madison Washington, Halee Turner, Jaclynn Lewis, Monserrat Figueroa, Bailey Eubank, Kortnei Johnson and Paige Westbrook leading the golden effort. Tara Wallis was confident on the back line while sophomore Lillie Perry continues to provide solid minutes for Coach Mathews since moving up from the JV squad. Taylor Turner and Cassidy Childers were entrusted to help keep their teammates motivated but the Lady Polar Bears over in Frost were being extremely territorial.
The Lady Gladiators have yet another challenge on Saturday with Italy JV squad taking on Covington inside Italy Coliseum on October 5 starting at 5:30 p.m. The varsity Lady Gladiators will take on Covington, as well, starting at 6:30 p.m.