Sports
Lindsay Lady Knights make school history, head to final four
By Allen Rich
Nov 15, 2009
Out of all the Class A volleyball teams in Texas that hit the gym in August with big dreams, only four teams have earned the right to keep that dream alive.
The Lindsay Lady Knights will join Bronte, Louise and Normangee in San Marcos next week at the UIL State Championship Tournament to see which team has what it takes to turn that dream into a state title.
The Lady Knights volleyball team made school history Saturday in Weatherford by winning the Region II-1A championship with a four game win over the Cayuga Lady Cats. And while the record book is open, the Lindsay girls would no doubt like to add a couple more chapters. The Class 1A semifinal matches are at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 20, although it is yet to be determined which teams play in either match. The two winners on Friday advance to the state championship game on Saturday.
In Lindsay's win over Cayuga in the regional finals, every Lady Knight stepped up her game. In the regional semis, it was Kaylee Murphree leading the Lindsay attack, but in the finals Kristin Martin took her turn at the helm. Martin hammered Cayuge with 18 kills, eight blocks and four aces. Murphree had another remarkable effort with 11 kills, five blocks and seven digs.
In the biggest match of their career, Lindsay junior Allison Metzler knocked down nine kills and sophomore Jordan Fleitman slammed down seven kills. Taylor Atkins, another talented sophomore, finished with four kills. Defensive specialist Alyx Ethington came up with seven digs.
Brenna Mlinar, a very athletic setter who makes this offense so dangerous, dished off 35 assists to the long list of Lindsay hitters. Mlinar also managed to get under a team-high 10 digs and collected four aces.
For her effort, Mlinar was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2009 Region II-1A Tournament. Kristin Martin earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
Lindsay got off to an impressive start against Cayuga, taking the first two games 25-16 and 25-8.
In game three, it was Cayuga holding on for a 25-23 win.
Lindsay punched their own ticket to the final four with a 25-17 victory in the fourth game.
The win over Cayuga in the regional finals gives Lindsay an impressive 35-10 record. But the most impressive thing about this team is that they're not done yet.
Lindsay stats:
Brenna Mlinar- 4 aces, 10 digs, 35 assists
Taylor Atkins- 4 kills, 3 digs
Kristin Martin- 4 aces, 18 kills, 8 blocks, 6 digs
Jordan Fleitman- 7 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs, 3 assists
Alyx Ethington- 7 digs
Allison Metzler- 9 kills
Kaylee Murphree- 11 kills, 5 blocks, 7 digs
Photos by Jay Anderle
