Conroe Courier - Sports
Covenant returns to state volleyball tourney
 |
| Covenant Christian’s Kelly Wiesmann spikes the ball as McKinney's Alex Mameth (6) attempts the block at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball on Saturday. |
By Howard Roden
TOMBALL – Even when McKinney Christian Academy made a couple of early runs at Covenant Christian Saturday, the relaxed expressions on the Lady Cougars’ faces never changed.
And with good reason.
Covenant Christian answered every challenge presented by the Lady Mustangs in the TAPPS 2A regional match at Concordia Lutheran. Ultimately, the Lady Cougars rolled to a 25-12, 25-20, 25-10 triumph that puts them in the state tournament for the third consecutive year.
Now 32-2 for the season, Covenant advances to the semifinals where it faces either El Paso Jesus Chapel or Bulverde Bracken Christian at 1 p.m. Friday at the Merrell Center in Katy.
It was Bracken that defeated the Lady Cougars in last year’s 2A title game.
“We know it’s going to be quite a challenge, regardless of which team we play,” Covenant Christian head coach Debbie Abbott said. “ We’ve been waiting for this opportunity for an entire year.”
McKinney Christian was in the regional for the first time in school history. Coach Judy Collins admitted she knew little about the Lady Cougars, except that they possessed a “strong” middle game.
Abbott’s players verified that scouting report. Sophomores Kelly Wiesmann and Katelyn Holm – the latter who stands an imposing 6-foot-3 – produced 16 and 13 kills, respectively.
“I knew we were going to win,” a joyful Wiesmann said. “They (McKinney) were good, but nothing like our team. We were confident we would win.”
Precise sets by seniors Dayna Wiesmann (21) and Michelle Walker (12) gave the Lady Cougars plenty of point-producing opportunities.
“We had an awesome game plan,” Walker said. “We had a little bit of nerves in the beginning, but we settled down.”
Walker turned out to be the alpha and omega of the match. She served the Lady Cougars to a 6-0 lead in the first game. Then, with Covenant leading 21-10 in the third game, Walker closed out the match with four consecutive aces.
McKinney Christian led 8-7 in the first game, but the Lady Cougars went on a 5-1 tear. Holm evened the score with a kill, then put her team ahead for good with a service ace. Three consecutive sets by Audrey Ohendalski resulted in kills by Kelly Wiesmann.
“They’re a strong hitting team. That kind of hitting helps,” Collins said.
McKinney led 10-7 in the second game, but Covenant responded with a 7-0 run. Kelly Wiesmann had three kills and Jordan Meza contributed a pair of service aces.
The Lady Mustangs pulled within 20-22, but kills by Kelly Wiesmann and Holm put Covenant in command with a two game to none lead.
“They (McKinney) kept scrapping with us, but I felt we would dominate in the end,” Abbott said.
And with good reason.
Covenant Christian answered every challenge presented by the Lady Mustangs in the TAPPS 2A regional match at Concordia Lutheran. Ultimately, the Lady Cougars rolled to a 25-12, 25-20, 25-10 triumph that puts them in the state tournament for the third consecutive year.
Now 32-2 for the season, Covenant advances to the semifinals where it faces either El Paso Jesus Chapel or Bulverde Bracken Christian at 1 p.m. Friday at the Merrell Center in Katy.
It was Bracken that defeated the Lady Cougars in last year’s 2A title game.
“We know it’s going to be quite a challenge, regardless of which team we play,” Covenant Christian head coach Debbie Abbott said. “ We’ve been waiting for this opportunity for an entire year.”
McKinney Christian was in the regional for the first time in school history. Coach Judy Collins admitted she knew little about the Lady Cougars, except that they possessed a “strong” middle game.
Abbott’s players verified that scouting report. Sophomores Kelly Wiesmann and Katelyn Holm – the latter who stands an imposing 6-foot-3 – produced 16 and 13 kills, respectively.
“I knew we were going to win,” a joyful Wiesmann said. “They (McKinney) were good, but nothing like our team. We were confident we would win.”
Precise sets by seniors Dayna Wiesmann (21) and Michelle Walker (12) gave the Lady Cougars plenty of point-producing opportunities.
“We had an awesome game plan,” Walker said. “We had a little bit of nerves in the beginning, but we settled down.”
Walker turned out to be the alpha and omega of the match. She served the Lady Cougars to a 6-0 lead in the first game. Then, with Covenant leading 21-10 in the third game, Walker closed out the match with four consecutive aces.
McKinney Christian led 8-7 in the first game, but the Lady Cougars went on a 5-1 tear. Holm evened the score with a kill, then put her team ahead for good with a service ace. Three consecutive sets by Audrey Ohendalski resulted in kills by Kelly Wiesmann.
“They’re a strong hitting team. That kind of hitting helps,” Collins said.
McKinney led 10-7 in the second game, but Covenant responded with a 7-0 run. Kelly Wiesmann had three kills and Jordan Meza contributed a pair of service aces.
The Lady Mustangs pulled within 20-22, but kills by Kelly Wiesmann and Holm put Covenant in command with a two game to none lead.
“They (McKinney) kept scrapping with us, but I felt we would dominate in the end,” Abbott said.
Copyright © 2009 - Houston Community Newspapers Online