Lady Railers finally come home

LCHS defeats previously unbeaten Normal Community West    

By Rick Hobler

[SEPT. 9, 2005]  On Tuesday night this week the Lady Railer volleyball team was scheduled for its home opener. But after I watched Tuesday's nightmare of a match, I decided that I must have been in the wrong gym, watching some other team. In fact I was so sure that the group of individuals I saw on Tuesday night was not the Lady Railer team that I chose not to write my usual sports article that night.

But what a difference two days makes! Last night the high school volleyball team that Lincoln knows and loves finally showed up at the newly redecorated Roy S. Anderson gymnasium. Welcome back! I hope you are here to stay. Assuming you are, I will keep writing.

Last night the Normal Community West Wildcats came to town sporting an undefeated 2-0 record. That record included a win over the same Bloomington High School that was in our town beating our "team" on Tuesday night. (Actually Bloomington didn't beat the Railers, the Railers beat themselves on Tuesday. OK, I think I have that all out of my system now.)

So, would the Lady Railers rise to the challenge? Yes, they would. A newly revised and "shook-up" lineup was the order of the night, according to Lady Railer head coach Charissa Howe. Gone was the revolving-substitution-door approach. Back was the "play who is being effective, when and where they are effective" philosophy that has taken the Railers so far for so long. Back was a diving-on-the-floor Michelle Fitzpatrick and Melissa Ramlow. Back was the serving and "everywhere" presence of Katie Conklen. Back were blistering kills from Jamie McFadden, Erin Frick, Natalie Boward and Kate Schonauer. Back was some excellent setting and serving by Ashley Bonaparte. Back was some great blocking by Ashley Meyrick and Erin Frick. Back was… well, back were the Lady Railers!

Lincoln controlled the match from the beginning with little challenge from the Wildcats. The Railers came out of game one with a relatively easy 25-10 victory. In the second game of the night, Normal West stepped up the competition, mostly on the strength of six kills from Jessica Guest and three blocks from Laura Wilcox. The game drew to a 24-24 tie before the hitting of Jamie McFadden ended the Wildcats' evening. The final tabulation read 26-24 in favor of the Lady Railers. The varsity improved its record to 3-1 overall.

The Lady Railer varsity squad heads to Washington, Mo., this weekend for the annual St. Francis Borgia Tournament. The Railers then return home for a nonconference match against Urbana High School next Thursday.

Welcome home, Railers. Promise -- I mean it -- promise you won't leave us again?

GO, RAILERS!!

= = =

Varsity statistics

• Kills -- McFadden 10, Frick 8
• Blocks -- Frick 4, Meyrick 3
• Assists -- Bonaparte 26
• Service points -- Conklen 7, Bonaparte 7
• Aces -- Meyrick 2
• Digs -- Fitzpatrick 11, Ramlow 9

Junior varsity and freshman results

The Lady Railer junior varsity squad went down to a hard-fought loss Thursday night by scores of 21-25 and 23-25. Unfortunately too many passing errors and a hard-to-decipher substitution plan negatively affected the junior Railers' play. The Railers, who won both of their matches last week, including a tough, come-from-behind win at Morton, have struggled this week. I am confident they too will "come home" soon.

The junior varsity's record now falls to 2-2. The JV will be back in action at home Thursday against Urbana.

The Railer freshmen continued their winning ways as they improved to 4-0 with a victory over Normal West by scores of 25-21 and 25-14. Excellent setter play by Emily Berglin was at the heart of the Railer victory. Michelle Boyer had an excellent night at the service line and the net to help the Railers stay undefeated. The freshman team had an all-around good performance from all of the players.

The freshmen ladies will return to action at home Wednesday night at 6 against Chatham.

[Rick Hobler]

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