Week #8 - Senior Sweep Highlights Huge Day for Tandem Athletics

V Volleyball - Dozens of parents, alumni and students filled the Badger Den tonight for Senior Night. Each of them held up 1 finger as Cora made her way to the service line of the Badger for the final time in a regular season contest. With the Badgers leading by just one point, 24-23, Cora's fist met the ball only a few seconds before the ball met the floor! Cora's big serve closed out the set, and the Badgers defeated Stuart Hall in straight sets, 3-0, their sixth win in the last seven games!

 

Throughout the season, Lola has smashed the ball so hard that her hits have left marks in the floor. Tonight, she did something even more wild. As her powerful serve approached the opponent, the blustery wind from the ball knocked Stuart Hall right off their feet. The ball never hit the opposing player, though that has happened a zillion times. On this occasion, the breeze from the ball was so powerful that it didn't even need to hit her opponent to knock her down. Absolutely terrifying, Lola!

 

Between Lola's massive serves and a sequence of aces, the Badgers jumped out to a 12-3 lead. Taylor passed the ball to Sofia who set Emory in the middle - one of her many big hits on the night. The first set also featured Maya's cross court hitting, Sofia's incredible cross court passing at full speed, Taylor's overhand serve and Lola closing it out 25-17.

 

The Badgers trailed for much of the second set. The team was down 7-3 early, and needed a big play. Stuart Hall's middle hitter wound up and gave it everything she had - and Emory blocked it back in her face. That got the rally started, and Tandem cut the lead to 3. A few moments later, Zella had an incredible dig from the back line, setting up a Sofia Slam and the Badgers made it 11-12. Cora kept it going with an incredible free ball kill, and the game was tied!

 

Stuart Hall scored the next six points, and with the Badgers needing a leader, Lola swatted the ball down the sideline. She added five straight serves to her point total and the set was tied at 18. Stuart Hall ran off three more points, and Maya responded with a beautifully placed hit down 23-24 to keep the game alive into the back corner off an awesome pass from Sofia. "Is that going to be in the email?" she asked. Of course, Maya! Taylor, lighting it up on Senior Day. served out the set and the Badgers won 26-24.

 

Up 2-0, Lola continued her exceptional play in the third set. She slammed the ball across the court with a fierce hit. The Badgers extended their early lead with a big service streak from Sofia. Sofia had 10 aces this evening, five in a row in the opening set, and the Badgers led 12-9. Sofia later set Elisabeth, who found the perfect spot, getting the serve back Emory for a few massive hits.

 

Throughout the third set, Sofia was all over the floor. She dug out every ball, and did so by turning a near opposing kill into a perfect pass. Then she popped right back up! On one occasion, she set up Maya for a huge smash. Cora, as mentioned earlier, served it out and the Badgers won 3-0 on Senior Night. Congratulations to our incredible seniors: Cora, Taylor, Sofia and Lola, on an amazing final home regular season game in the Badger Den. The team will be back in action on Friday at 4pm at RMA!

 

Middle School Boys Soccer - Will immediately put pressure on the opponent, making an early push into STAB's zone. He worked with Dylan, Cal, Eli, Cord and Arden to keep the Badgers on the offensive. Trenton was effective in the middle, distributing the ball to the strikers. Luke, Jailen, Eric and Isaiah were excellent on defense - as was Eli in the goal - forcing the ball to the outside. When they did, Ryan helped moved the ball to Jackson, Jayceon and Ethan, who flipped the momentum and pushed it ahead! In the 22nd minute, Ryan found Luke in the box who scored the opening goal off a cross! The Badgers took the lead!

 

Tandem kept the pedal to the medal. Eli ripped the ball away from a STAB striker and pushed it ahead to the Tandem offense. After the Badgers earned a corner kick, Aven smashed it into the box. "I've seen him bend that ball a hundred times," said Coach Sam. The goalie saved it, and pushed it out towards Luke who scored his second goal on a laser beam from thirty feet away! The ball went right over the goalies arms - and Tandem led 2-0!

 

Dylan, Henry, Charlie and Elias cleared the ball out, and made a push! While STAB was able to score late in the first half, they never managed another goal. Isaiah had several big saves in the second half, and the Middle School Badgers, like their Varsity Basketball counterparts, defeated STAB 2-1! Congratulations on a great game, Badgers! 

 

To quote Elisabeth, "Aofie popped it right back over" every time. She was dominant from the service line and on the net, including two serves in a row. Ellia was incredible serving. I loved the passion we saw from Nieve today - she had a diving save, a big hit and played her best game of the season. Sophie dug the ball out, set Maeve and a big hit from Ellia. As Emory B put it, "Sophie had one of the most beautiful dives I've ever seen." The Badgers led 11-6 when Maeve had a free ball kill! Additionally, Sophie's serve was ferocious, and she scored several aces in a row. Following a timeout, Aofie had a big hit - and some service time as well. 

 

Catriona was incredible today; she had a sequence of big hits from the opposite side and was amazing as a setter. In the final set, Kaylee, Ginger and Emory teamed up with some excellent passing - Marilyn defended the middle - and the Badgers pushed Covenant for every single point. It was a great day for Kaylee as a passer, and for Emory's power, which she showed off with her hitting and serving. They won the first set, played a close second and third set as well - their best match of the year! The team continues to improve - and they'll have a third match this week - battling CHS at 4:45 on the road. See you then!

 

Boys Varsity Soccer - also won on the road, improving their record to 5-2. Van, Oscar and Sean scored as the team beat WCDS 3-1. They're ranked 9th in the state!