Cougars hold off Hornets

STUARTS DRAFT — It looked like Wilson Memorial was going to spoil Stuarts Draft’s senior night after taking the opening game, but the five Draft seniors stood as one and defeated the Green Hornets in four games, 23-25, 25-9, 26-24 25-19.

For the five seniors — Erin Brown, Chayla Burkholder, Ariel Christy, Jessi Ramsey and Caroline Campbell — it was their night to shine against district foe Wilson Memorial.

“I think we all really wanted to win tonight. With it being senior night it was especially important to me to play my best,” said senior Jessi Ramsey. “I thought after we lost in the first game that we stepped up as a team and fought our way back. It was a team effort.”

Draft dropped Game 1 when the Hornets came roaring back into the match after being down late to take the Game 1 win.

The Hornets could not carry the momentum into Game 2, as Draft stepped up and took full advantage of the Hornets’ mistakes. The Cougars turned the match around with a decisive 25-9 win in Game 2.

In Game 3, the Cougars and Hornets battled back-and-forth. Trailing 24-23 late, Noel Bartley tipped the ball over the net between Cougar defenders to tie the game, but on the next play Ariel Christy slammed a kill to give Draft the 25-24 lead and they would eventually win the game 26-24.

Draft (12-1, 6-1 Southern Valley) put the Hornets to rest with a 25-19 win in Game 4. Draft coach Kami Meeteer was proud of the way her seniors came to play on senior night.

“With it being senior night I thought they were nervous and ready to play all at the same time,” Meeteer said. “The seniors are all really supportive of each other, and they really want to do well as a team.”

“I am proud of all five of them. They are such good people on and off the court,” Meeteer added. “They have been a part of this team for a long time and have done a lot to make people proud of them.”

Erin Brown paced the Cougars with 15 assists, while Callie Updike had a team high with 11 kills in the win. Caroline Campbell added 23 service points, five aces, and 19 digs for the Cougars.

Wilson coach Kim Claytor is still trying to get her young Hornets to play with consistency.

“It all comes down to playing with consistency. I have been preaching it all year long and it just hasn’t sunk in,” Claytor said. “They need a spark and I think it has to come from within. Once we start playing with consistency I think we will be fine.”