WILSON EXTRA: Bartley adds another threat

FISHERSVILLE
When Kala Guy was hurt early in the season, Wilson coach Kim Claytor said that the Green Hornets were not a one-player team. Wilson found it could win without one of the state’s top players, taking a couple of non-district wins.

But in Saturday’s win against defending Group A champion Strasburg, the Green Hornets proved it again.

Not that Guy had a bad game unless seven blocks, 11 digs and 13 kills doesn’t cut it.

No, Wilson needed somebody else to come through and take some pressure off the senior hitter.

In stepped Noël Bartley.

Tuesday, when Wilson needed a point, Guy got it.

Saturday, it was Bartley.

The junior delivered when games were on the line, scoring back-to-back points to close out each game of Wilson’s sweep of Strasburg.

Bartley doesn’t have the same power that Guy has, but she creates plays by changing the pace and direction of her kills. And she has the uncanny ability to know when each will work best.

“She was just crazy,” Wilson setter Christine Coffield said of Bartley. “She was so hyped and [got] up on everything. Her timing was perfect.”

Bartley’s timing helped her on four blocks, several of them on the Rams’ star hitter Jenna Smoot. Her team-high 15 digs saved several volleys and her 12 kills were a huge factor in the win. And with 12 service points and three aces, she was the perfect complement to Guy.

“Noël was awesome,” Guy said.  “She stepped up so much.”

Claytor was pleased that everyone who played contributed to the win and she noted that Bartley has been fed “a whole lot of positive energy.”

Bartley couldn’t hide her smile after the win. And she wouldn’t let go of the Region B championship trophy, clutching it like a lost friend.

“This is amazing,” she said.  “I am so excited. We didn’t know what to expect [from Strasburg] tonight, but we knew we were going out and play just as hard as we could.”

The sweep set up another game at the Hive on Tuesday, something Bartley said was key to the Hornet’s run to the state.

“It’s amazing — this [win] means we don’t have to ride forever — on a school bus — to play again,” she said.  “It’s always an advantage to play here. 

“Our fans have been great and the students finally “blacked out” in black shirts. We could hear them screaming and cheering and it got us to play harder,” she added. “They’ve been a great help and support to us.”

But Bartley gave another reason for her hard play.

“My dad couldn’t come today but he told me to make him proud. I played as well as I could,” she said.

Someone tell Neil Bartley that his daughter played the game of her life on the big stage. Send him a copy of the game film so he can see it for himself.

And make sure he knows that there is a seat on the bleachers with his name on it for Tuesday’s Group A quarterfinal match with Northumberland.