Berthoud Weekly Surveyor | Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot

Spartans slay the Warriors in homecoming match

September 18, 2014 | Volleyball

Berthoud now second to Mead in Tri-Valley Conference

Paula Megenhardt
The Surveyor

Julie Ward celebrates a kill from the back row to Jessa Megenhardt. Paula Megenhardt / The Surveyor

Julie Ward celebrates a kill from the back row to Jessa Megenhardt.
Paula Megenhardt / The Surveyor

Freshman Julie Ward led the Spartans to rule over the Fredrick Warriors 25-21, 25-19 and 25-13 for Berthoud High Homecoming week. The win put the Spartans at 4-1 in the Tri-Valley Conference, placing them second behind Mead.

Ward had a total of eight kills, 18 digs, one block, and two aces in the game. Teammate Shaylee Pierick had six kills and four blocks. Hannah Atkinson also had six kills and two blocks while Alyssa Peacock had four kills and two aces. Jessa Megenhardt put up 25 assists and 11 digs.

Peacock and Haley Hummel were ever steadfast in the match making 20 and 19 serves, respectively. Hummel ended the first set with an ace, one of four for the match.

“I just try my best to place it where Santos says and tell myself to get it in every time,” said Hummel.

The second set was a reminder that a team can never under estimate their opponent. Coming in to the match, Fredrick was 1-3. They came out strong in the set, leading 11-6 at one point. The Spartans came roaring back, taking the lead at 15-14, finishing the set at 25-19. Megenhardt had four aces, the last one sealed the game.

The Spartans opened up the third set 6-0 with Peacock serving. Then Hummel had a six-point run, putting Berthoud up 13-2. The momentum intensified for the Spartans, winning the set and the match.

“Being homecoming week, it was just the perfect outcome to just sweep them,” said Peacock.

Spartans down the Rough Riders in Johnstown

Haley Hummel’s 29 serves led the Spartans to a win in five sets over Roosevelt in Johnstown Sept. 11. Even having bested the Rough Riders in a tournament the previous Saturday, they came into the match with the mindset of underdogs, hungry for a win.

“The CSU volleyball team goes in [to a match] as the underdogs, and that’s what we need to do. Never underestimate anyone,” said Berthoud senior Alyssa Peacock, prior to Thursday’s match.

The Spartans came out strong and aggressive, creating an eight-point lead at 19-11 when they let it slip away with a final score of 22-25. The euphoria of the come-from-behind win for Roosevelt was short-lived in the second set when Haley Hummel had a run of eight serves, putting the Spartans at 17-11. The Spartans held on to finish the set 25-19. The momentum continued for the Spartans by winning the third set, 25-20 but losing the next 21-25.

In the tie-breaker, Hummel once again inspired the team with another run of seven serves and the Spartans never lost the lead, ending the set at 15-11.

“This win is so huge for us,” said Hannah Atkinson. “I don’t know how long it’s been since we’ve beat Roosevelt.

“I think that we came out with fire and put the ball away as a team. I think the fact that we beat them shows how we’re going to play the rest of the season. It’s the perfect way to set us up for the next couple games,” said Atkinson, who was on fire with 28 total kills.

Berthoud’s Jessa Megenhardt had a total of 53 assists for the match. The Spartans also covered the floor with a total of 155 digs. Hummel and Atkinson had 38 a piece, while Peacock had 34.

“Setting-wise, I was really pleased with Jessa Megenhardt’s decisions trying to move them around a little bit and knowing who to push it to,” said head coach Daisha Agho.

Agho made a few adjustments to the defense based on the match against Roosevelt at the Lewis Palmer Tournament Sept. 6.

“It’s not our normal defense … they knew what we had to do and why we had to do it based on what we saw last Saturday. I was really proud of them to be able to pull it out tonight,” said Agho. “[Roosevelt] are a very good team defensively, and it’s hard to put balls away. Being able to pull three [wins] and find spots on the court where they weren’t, is definitely a plus for us. It’s something we worked on in practice this week.”

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