Walker's Ashlynne Smiley (right) watches Ashlyn Causey set up a shot against Springfield.
Springfield's Sarah Simeon returns the ball against Walker on Monday. The Lady Bulldogs swept the Lady Cats.
Springfield's Emma Clark sets up a return.
Springfield's Karlee Wilkerson returns the ball against Walker on Monday.
WALKER -- The Springfield volleyball team took a break from district action Wednesday night, but it didn’t take a break from winning.
The Lady Bulldogs rebounded from a shaky start against non-district opponent Walker to pick up their third win in as many games, prevailing in straight sets at Glenn Ellis Gymnasium.
It was the ninth victory in 10 games for Springfield (16-10), which now begins an eight-day break before returning to the court Oct. 18. The loss gave Walker (6-19, 0-5) its seventh defeat in the past eight matches, including the last three.
But this one was all about the Lady Bulldogs. Springfield won its three sets by nine, eight and 13 points, stifling the Lady Wildcats’ momentum whenever they seemed to find their groove. There were only four ties and four lead changes in the lopsided three-set match, much to the delight of Springfield freshman Tabitha Lobell.
“I love winning with this team,” Lobell said. “It’s so much fun, the feeling we have on the court.”
It probably wasn’t much fun for Springfield in the beginning, however. The squads either tied or exchanged leads on six of the opening set’s first eight points, with Walker grabbing a lead twice.
A kill from Karlee Williams — one of a game-high 11 for the junior — kick-started a 14-2 run for the Lady Bulldogs.
Three consecutive errors by Springfield gave some life to the Lady Wildcats, who benefitted from 10 first-set errors by the Lady Bulldogs. But Walker committed 10 errors in the first set, and a thunderous kill from Williams gave her squad the first win of the night, 25-16.
The errors didn’t appear to bother Springfield coach Olivia Myers too much. She’s seen this scenario play out before.
“It’s those Monday games,” Myers said with a smile. “It usually takes them a little while to get into (the game), but they eventually get it.”
Springfield cleaned up its act in the second set, cutting the errors in half (from 10 to five) while leading by as many as 10 points. Trailing 22-12, Walker scored on five on the next seven points given before Williams again delivered a powerful kill to notch a 25-17 win for the Lady Bulldogs.
After playing closer than expected in the first two sets, things got out of hand for Walker in the third, something coach Randy Sandifer is all too familiar with this season.
“We just can’t play consistent enough,” Sandifer said. “We go through a spurt where we play good, but then we give up six, seven or eight points, and it gets away from us.”
True to form, the Lady Wildcats clawed back to a two-point deficit before a 6-0 run from Springfield made the score 13-5. The teams then traded points until the Lady Bulldogs closed the night on a 9-3 run to grab the third set, 25-12, and the match.
Springfield will now enjoy an eight-day break before resuming Division III, District 7 action against Pearl River on Oct. 18. Walker will travel to Destrehan for a non-league match on Thursday before squaring off against Division I, District 4 foe St. Amant on Oct. 17.
