Shelley sweeps Rigby despite late Trojan surges

SHELLEY — The Rigby Trojans refused to spell quietly, battling backmost from ample let-set deficits 3 times. But nan Russets were excessively much, claiming a triumph successful consecutive sets astatine location Thursday nighttime successful Shelley.

Rigby (7-3-1) was forced to return a brace of timeouts successful nan first set, first down 6-1, past down 12-5, and rallied backmost down sophomore Acacia Taylor. But Shelley (8-2-2) yet vanished pinch a 25-21 group victory. It was nan aforesaid communicative doubly more, pinch nan Russets grabbing a commanding lead earlier nan Trojans put together a mid-set surge only to spot Shelley decorativeness nan 2nd and 3rd sets 25-23 and 25-20.

Shelley caput coach Cami Empey said aft nan crippled that nan attraction astatine believe during this beardown commencement to nan play has been denying runs. Siding retired nan opponent’s first set, she said, is nan cardinal to winning.

“Our service person is what really won america that game,” Empey told EastIdahoNews.com. “We’ve been moving a batch connected siding retired connected our first ball, and we came retired and did that tonight.”

Shelley libero, inferior Ashtyn Davis receives a service during nan 2nd group of Thursday’s triumph complete Rigby. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Shelley was paced by do-it-all mediate blocker Josslynn Ivie, who vanished nan nighttime pinch 5 kills, 4 blocks and a work ace, coming up particularly large to extremity Rigby’s runs.

The inferior scored back-to-back points to halt a Rigby unreserved successful nan 2nd set, past roofed back-to-back Trojan swings early successful nan third, erstwhile Rigby was trying to get a amended commencement than they had successful nan first two.

Empey said that Ivie’s contributions spell beyond those which are measured statistically. Ivie, nan coach said, makes immoderate interaction pinch astir of nan shots she challenges, slowing nan shots down and making nan jobs of nan girls down her overmuch easier. Then, she tin move astir and finish.

“She’s conscionable arsenic bully defensively arsenic she is offensively, and that’s specified a bonus,” Empey said.

Shelley’s Josslynn Ivie serves during nan 2nd group Thursday night. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Another subordinate whose contributions spell good beyond immoderate container people is libero Ashtyn Davis.

Davis was everyplace each night, making diving pancake saves and lunging digs.

Empey said that nan inferior has grown by “leaps and bounds” from past season, erstwhile she was connected Empey’s nine team, to this.

“She is 1 of our scrappiest (players),” Empey said. “She prime up balls that you deliberation are going down automatically, it’s conscionable astonishing to watch her play.”

Watching her, and nan different 11 connected nan court, was astonishing for 1 peculiar rally, which lasted astir 60 seconds, successful nan first set. With bodies flying everywhere, spike aft spike was returned until, pinch players visibly slowing, sophomore Macie Winder vanished nan constituent for Shelley.

When nan rally was over, Rigby recovered while nan Russets ran to Davis, who’d made galore awesome saves.

Ampey said that rallies for illustration that tin wholly change a match.

“It’s astonishing to watch,” she said. “And points for illustration that build much momentum than immoderate different point.”

Shelley will adjacent return nan tribunal Friday astatine nan ThunderBee Tournament astatine Thunder Ridge. Rigby will beryllium astatine Pocatello to return connected nan powerful Thunder and inferior Abby Lusk Tuesday.