Leopold volleyball team claws past Advance

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- The second game of Thursday night's volleyball match between Leopold and Advance featured six ties, all of which came after both teams had scored their 23rd point.

Back and forth they went tied at 23-23 then 24-24, 25-25, 26-26, 27-27 and 28-28 before Advance setter Allie Below ended the longest and most impressive rally of the night with a second-touch set over the net into the middle of Leopold's side of the court, out of the reach of all six Wildcats.

The Hornets won the next point on a Leopold hitting error, giving them the second game and presumably the momentum heading into a decisive third game. But a stuff from Leopold middle Dana Thiele on the first point of Game 3 helped the Wildcats recover and eventually go on to win 25-19, 28-30, 25-21.

"That just changed the momentum of the game," Leopold coach Sandy Davis said about Thiele's play. "It changed the momentum for [Advance] hitters and for us because our defense is very solid, I feel. But our blocking at the beginning needed a lot of work.

"We have progressed so much in our blocking and for Dana to come out and get that, it lifted everybody. It just really got them going and, as far as hitting wise, it changes the momentum for hitters when they get blocked right off the bat. Then they're going to tip or try to change stuff up, so that's a big factor right there."

Leopold's Emily Elfrink and Dana Thiele, right, block against Advance's Haley Kennison during the third game Thursday in Leopold, Mo. (Kristin Eberts)

Leopold freshman Caitlin Petty provided some cushion for her team with her jump serve. She served three of her five aces in the match over a four-point span to give the Wildcats a 12-7 lead they never relinquished in Game 3.

"I missed a couple serves, and when points are close, I just want to get it over and in and in a good spot," said Petty, recalling a miss that gave Advance a 23-21 lead in Game 2.

Petty, who plays an unconventional combination of middle while in the front row and setter while she's in the back row, led Leopold with 15 kills.

Advance committed eight service and hitting errors in its opening-game loss and missed 10 serves in the match.

"I think the noise level got to us," Advance coach Dana Below said. "It was communication problems between the defense and just getting familiar with this court. It's a different court than most, and I think the noise really got to us in the beginning."

Advance's Allie Below, left, and Grayson Miles block against Leopold's Caitlin Petty during the second game of a match on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, in Leopold. (Kristin Eberts)

Liza Gray led Advance with 11 kills, while Aimie Simmers feasted on Leopold's single block in the middle for much of the match to finish with 10 kills and six blocks.

Simmers highlighted a 6-1 run for Advance early in Game 2 with a stuff and an ace. The run gave Advance a 9-3 lead it maintained until Leopold tied the game at 23-23.

"I was proud of them because we've been struggling through winning the first set and losing the second and third," Below said. "This time we came out ready to go the second game and kind of kept that momentum most of the game."

The win was the second in less than a week for Leopold over Advance after losing to the Hornets in the championship match of the season-opening Woodland tournament. The Wildcats also defeated Advance in three games at the SEMO Spike tournament Saturday.

"Our team's young," Davis said. "I have a lot of girls with very little experience in this situation, so they're learning and they love that challenge. Advance is good. They have a lot talent."

Advance's Liza Gray hits between Leopold's Caitlin Petty, left, Katie Stone during the second game of a match on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, in Leopold. (Kristin Eberts)

Gaining the edge in the season series with a district opponent was a focus for the Wildcats.

"Yeah, big time, especially with seedings in district and stuff," Leopold sophomore Denai Arnzen said. "Coach has been freaking out about this game forever. She's like, 'We've got to beat them, we've got to beat them.'"

Arnzen finished with 10 kills, 18 digs and a pair of aces. She recorded kills with both her left and right hands and from both the front and back rows.

"She's just unreal," Davis said. "She's 5-foot-4 and plays like she's 6 foot. Her ability to see the floor and some of the things she does is just like, 'Oh my gosh.' And it looks so natural. You put her anywhere on that floor and that girl's just going to do so well. She's so athletic and she's so smart."