Bobcats Notch First Win in Thriller

Bobcats Notch First Win in Thriller

By Angelique Fiske

            The Bobcats’ first win of the season came in a dramatic 3-2 win in their home opener against the La Salle Explorers.  In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Quinnipiac improved their record to 1-6, as La Salle dropped to 2-8.

            Senior Kelby Carey and freshman Tierra Allen led the team with thirteen kills each, followed closely by junior Taylor Payne with eleven of her own.  Senior Kayla Lawler had an unprecedented forty-one assists throughout the match, and sophomore Tracy Wright led the team with eighteen digs. 

            After dropping the first set to the Explorers 25-16, the Bobcats came back with a fierce second set, keeping the Explorers quiet for the first half of the set.  Even though La Salle came within striking distance, the Bobcats closed out the second set 25-22.  La Salle then took the overall score to 2-1, winning the third set 25-21.  With a 25-19 fourth set win, the Bobcats tied the overall score 2-2, forcing a fifth deciding set.  Despite both teams putting up a fight, never letting the other run away with a lead, the Bobcats came out on top, winning the set 20-18.

            “I’m really, really pleased with the poise we showed and the steadiness,” said Quinnipiac coach, Robin Sparks.  “It doesn’t matter what the score is, you like you’re winning.  I think we did that really well the fifth game. I think that’s going to do a lot for our confidence.”

            The great composure Coach Sparks praised came from a variety of places, particularly after junior libero Logan Riker was removed from the game in the third set due to an injury.

            “When Logan went out, I think we really felt like we had to step it up.  She’s a huge presence on our team,” said Payne.  “I turned to her right when we won and said ‘that was for you.’  She’s one of our captains; she’s just an amazing player all together.”

             Even though the team lost Riker halfway through the match, “Tracy [Wright] came in and did a really good job,” said Allen.

            The team’s ability to accommodate fallen players is something that had been a stretch in the past, Payne recalling that “last year it was whoever could stand got on the court.”  A lot of this has been credited to the freshmen class.

             “Occasionally with freshmen they might freak out, but they’re very steady, very calm.  I wouldn’t think that they were freshmen,” said Carey. 

            The support for the freshman class and the team in general in the home opener also noticeably had an effect on the game’s energy level.  Payne, whose father can be seen with a variety of crazy hats, picked up on the change in atmosphere.

             “We’ve never had a crowd like that in my entire life.  Nick Sczerbinski, the president of QU Spirit, actually came up to me last weekend and was like ‘I think I have a few people coming to the game, do you think your dad would mind?’ Do you think he would mind? Bring as many people as you want,” she said.

            In her first home game, Allen found the support hard to ignore as well with her friends, family, and roommates armed with vibrant posters and body paint.

            “I think the crowd, our friends, our families, and Taylor’s dad, all of that just helps you play better,” Allen said.  “It’s hard to suck having all of that support behind you.”