Panthers test triumphant Lions

Game summary

The Sept. 20 Pomona-Littleton volleyball match goes down as a 3-0 Lions win but the final score doesn’t reflect the fact the Panthers played excellent volleyball against the talented Littleton team.

“I am proud of how our team played tonight,” Pomona coach Lora Faust said after the match. “Our girls never quit and I thought we played very well, particularly in the third match.

She said this team is developing as the season moves forward.

“This is my first year as head coach, so we are getting to know each other and the players are getting to know the system we are now using,” the coach said before the match. “They are learning the system quickly and the fun part of a coach for me is watching them come together and improve in all areas of play.”

Key moments

Littleton’s veteran team set the tempo early and built a strong lead in the first game but Pomona played hard and scored points as the Lions won 25-15. Littleton won the second game by the same score but again the Panthers played solid volleyball and tested the Lions.

The third game proved to be a challenge for both teams. It was exciting volleyball with hard serves, hard spikes and solid defense on both sides of the net that produced long volleys. Pomona was fired up and held the lead at a couple points in the game. But the Lions got the needed points to win, 25-20.

Key players/statistics

Senior captain Ashlea Johnson led the team with nine kills. She made seven digs and received 13 serves with only one error. Freshman Meghan McGarvey served two aces and received 10 serves without an error. Co-captain Taylor Martin was the dig leader with 11, plus she received 14 serves with two errors. Morgan White was the team leader in assists with 12.

They said it

Coach Foust spoke about the future of the program with 47 on the rosters of the four teams playing volleyball for Pomona.

“We are using the same system at all levels,” she said. “We have to start building volleyball skills with our freshmen because Jefferson County doesn’t have volleyball in the middle schools. The joy is watching the young players learn to play the game and play it well.”

Martin is the team defensive specialist in the position that is called the libero.

“My freshman year I was put in the role,” the senior said after the match. “I just took it and ran with it.”

She said the third game was very exciting.

“Our team played very well together. We made things happen and everyone was pumped up. We played hard but unfortunately we didn’t win the game,” she said.

“But we saw we can play very good volleyball and that is something we can build on for the matches we play the rest of the season.”

She said her goal is to play hard and help her teammates have a successful season as they work hard and play to their full potential.

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