Championship Ticket Punched

CASPER – The last time the Worland volleyball team made it to the state championship game, most of the members of this year's team weren't even born yet.

The drought is now over as the Lady Warriors defeated Buffalo in five games 18-25, 25-19, 25-23, 21-25 and 15-5.

It was a back and forth affair through the first four games, but Worland imposed its will on Buffalo in the final game - leaving no doubt as it picked up its third win over Buffalo this season.

"We've done it all year against Buffalo. We just have wanted it more ... and when their stud gets to the back row we knew it was our time to go. We made sure we were loaded with hitters when she was back there and that helped," said Worland volleyball coach Brittany Miller.

The first game saw Buffalo get out to an early 8-2 and as hard as they fought, the Lady Warriors just couldn't close the gap as they fell 25-18.

Worland's struggles in the first game were non-existent in the next frame, building a small cushion early on and holding onto it throughout. After leading 16-12, the Lady Warriors surrendered three straight points as Buffalo fought its way back.

And every time Worland would make a small run, Buffalo would answer with one of its own to stay close. Ahead 21-19, Worland closed out the second game with four straight points to tie the match up 1-1 with a 25-19 win.

The third game was much the same with Worland holding a lead a majority of the time and Buffalo making a run late. The Lady Bison came back to tie it 23-23, but Worland scored the next two points to win 25-23 and take a 2-1 advantage.

Early on in the fourth game, it looked like Worland was going to close out the match in four. Buffalo had other plans, though.

Trailing 11-6, the Lady Bison went on a 13-4 run to go ahead 19-15. Worland seemed fine with the role reversal as they played from behind and battled back to tie the game at 20-20.

The comeback fell short, though, as Buffalo scored four straight before going on to win 25-21 and force a final game to 15.

In the beginning, it was close and the tension in the Casper Events Center was omnipresent.

Then, Worland went off.

The Lady Warriors scored 10 straight points to take a 14-4 lead and back Buffalo up against the ropes. The Lady Bison stayed alive after an errant Worland serve, the score was 14-5. Worland got the point right back, though, as junior Charlee Townsend received a perfect set from Casey Wassum and sent it straight to the floor for the game and match point.

Before the final game, one of the tournament refs spoke to the Lady Warriors and provided some words of encouragement.

Right after, Townsend delivered a message to her team – telling them everyone else had confidence in them and it was time they started playing with that same level of confidence.

Message received.

"We used it and excelled in every way that we could. We all believed in each other and we knew that if we made a mistake we could answer it in a positive way and slam it back down on the court the next time and that's exactly what we did," said Townsend.

One more match

Now, one match remains against Mountain View with the 3A state title on the line. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m. today.

"Mountain View got upset in the championship last year and this is the first weekend they've had a full roster. It's going to be a dog fight," said Miller. "We just have to do the same thing we did (Friday against Buffalo). Move past mistakes and the team that makes the fewest wins."

The last time Worland and Mountain View met at the state tournament, was in the first round last year, with Mountain View winning. Prior to that, the teams met in the 1997 3A title game which Mountain View won in two games 15-13 and 15-9 in a then best-of-three format to 15

Today, the Lady Warriors are out to make sure history doesn't repeat itself.