Hornets get over their Game 2 blues

FISHERSVILLE — Wilson coach Kim Claytor finally figured it out.

All season the Green Hornets have struggled to find a three-game sweep, especially in Shenandoah District play, but on Tuesday night in a pivotal match, Wilson found all the answers and beat Luray 25-15, 25-18, 25-17 to take the lone spot on top of the standings.

“I think deep down inside they thought they could come out and blast the first game and could let up the second game because they know they will win three and four,” Claytor said. “I told them, ‘There will be no more losing Game 2 because there will be consequences, because you will get further in the playoffs and some team will take that momentum and you won’t be able to get it back.’ Tough love is what I call it.”

Game 2 has been Wilson’s weak point, and after blasting by the Bulldogs 25-15 in the first game, the trend looked to continue. After two Wilson hitting fouls and a Megan Jeffers netball, Luray was up 3-1. The Hornets had to battle back to tie the game at four after a Kala Guy ace, but the Bulldogs quickly responded and took a one-point lead with an Allison Headman kill.

The lead traded hands two more times until Noël Bartley hit a kill and Luray’s Ashley Epping hit the ball out to give Wilson the lead for good.

“I think we have learned how to get over the bad humps and we have gotten over the things that we needed to,” Guy said.

The Bulldogs pulled within one point after Guy sailed an attack out-of-bounds, but Trisha Bruce hit back-to-back aces to stop the Bulldog rally in its tracks and give Wilson a 20-17 lead.

Wilson cruised the rest of the way to pull out the Game 2 win.

“That was our main focus was to go in there and sweep,” Guy said. “We knew we could do it and that’s what we got.”

Luray only led one time in the third game by one point, but the momentum was all on Wilson’s side of the court, and the tandem of Guy and Bartley was hard to stop.

Guy, a senior, said that her underclassman teammates didn’t play like rookies on Tuesday and were pivotal to the overall success of the Green Hornets this season.

“Together we bond so well,” she said. “There is no difference in class because the juniors act like seniors. We have a good time.”

Wilson has one more district contest left against Stonewall Jackson on Thursday, and will have to win to earn the automatic bid into the Region B tournament.

“I’m always worried about everybody,” Claytor said. “This is a competitive district. Stonewall can stir up the pot, but I don’t count on that happening.”

Claytor said that the Hornets have started to hit their peak right on time.

“After this one I feel better,” Claytor said. “I don’t want to peak to early, but I think we are doing OK. We made some mistakes early in the season, but I think we are coming together.”

Luray coach Julie Rothgeb had no comment for The News Virginian.