By Jeff Johncox
As opening matches go, Community Christian’s wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t pretty.
With crosstown foe Norman High visiting, the Royals knew they’d have their work cut out for them, especially with a team short on players thanks to CCS’ new fast-pitch softball team. Though the Tigers won, CCS played tough all three games, coming back from at least a five-point deficit in each set to make things interesting, finally falling 25-18, 25-20 and 25-19.
“It was a nice match to get us back on the winning side, but it wasn’t a ‘gimme’ match,” NHS coach Carrie Hare said. “We had to work hard for it and I think our seniors stepped up for us.”
The Tigers were led by setter Colleen Parrish and outside hitter Taylor Brown.
After a slow start, for both teams, Parrish finished with 19 assists and four aces while Brown knocked down 10 kills, several of them coming during tight spots in the final set.
“We’re very experienced,” Hare said. “I’ve got three seniors out there who have started for three years. (Parrish) has been my leading setter now for three years, and when you add (Brown), and you have that setter-hitter combination, it’s something every coach wishes they could have.”
CCS was led by Taryn Walker’s six kills and Rebekah Bentley’s 15 assists. Bentley, a former outside hitter, was starting her first game as a setter.
“I’m really proud of the way she came in and played,” CCS coach Craig Ruiz said.
Through the first game, and into the first part of the second, both teams struggled to get any sort of offense going. For a while, the two squads were scoring more for the opposition than for themselves, unforced errors making for give-away points.
After falling behind in the first game, the Royals battled back to get within 19-18. But the Tigers called a timeout, then went on to score the final six points for the victory.
The Royals shot themselves in the foot again in the second game, only to fight back to make things close.
The Tigers jumped out to a 13-7 advantage before CCS tied things at 14. NHS went on another run to go up by six, then finally won on an ace from libero Mollie McIver.
“With the top teams we want to beat, they won’t give you that chance,” Hare said. “We’re going to need to put them away. That’s our No. 1 thing, to finish strong.”
The Tigers finished strong in the third game, too, but again, not before the Royals made things interesting.
CCS kept close, getting within 19-16, but the mistakes returned. The Royals gave NHS three of four points thanks to unforced errors, allowing the Tigers to expand their lead to 23-16.
“We’re going to be OK,” Ruiz said. “I’m really happy with how we fought. They never quit. We might have been a little confused at times about where to be and what our assignments were, but I’m really proud of them.”
The victory gives the Tigers something to build on as they head to this weekend’s Tulsa Union Tournament against some of the best teams in the state. Oddly, it was Tulsa Union that had NHS coming into CCS off a loss, the Redskins beating the Tigers Aug. 12 at the NHS Gym
“Today was definitely a lot more comfortable than our first match,” Parrish said. “We’ve started clicking … It’s an early match, so it’s only going to get better from here. We’re already playing really well, but we’re only going to get better.”
Jeff Johncox
366-3535
jjohncox@normantranscript.com
