Lady Bobcats looking to implement impressive run into overall play

THERMOPOLIS - While hosting the Bobcat Invitational on Friday and Saturday the Hot Springs County volleyball team learned a lot about their game. If they're out there for themselves and their play reflects that, the team struggles, but if they are of one mind. focused on executing their game plan. their ceiling gets much higher.

It was an up and down Invite for the Lady Bobcats but during their final game of the tournament, in the silver bracket, they discovered just how well they can play.

Having lost 25-7 in the previous game and down 24-18 with 2A Big Piney serving match-point, the Lady 'Cats buckled down and went on a 6-0 run to tie the match.

"We were down 18-24 and my girls focused in and made a run. Big Piney called a timeout and I told them we can't let any ball drop because that will be the match. To their credit they focused, scored six-straight points and tied it up. I was super proud of that run they made, it proved that we are capable of going on runs like that and have that focus. I was proud of them after bouncing back from that 25-7 game," said HSCHS volleyball coach Shannon Hill.

The Lady 'Cats did run out of steam dropping the final two points, losing the match 26-24. Still that run was an important confidence builder for this team as their conference schedule begins this weekend.

Hill has been figuring ways to add drills for practice this week that would allow her team to tap into that sense of urgency they experienced during that important run.

"I've been thinking of drills where you can replicate that type of pressure and focus. My thing is, and I've told the girls this, is to focus on every point like it's the last of the match and that couldn't have been more true against Big Piney. This team has great potential when they're all working together," said Hill.

Added Hill, "I was impressed by it because they could have easily given up a point to end it. Our unforced errors have a history of being high, for them to focus for that run was amazing and impressed me as their coach. It was nice to see it come together like that."

Consistency will also be a focus for the Lady 'Cats, which to Hill comes down to playing together as a team rather as individuals.

"That's been part of our ups and downs. Sometimes we play like individuals and you can tell and that usually leads us to falling apart during a game. It's been a huge focus for us, just looking at what we can do and what we're capable of when we're playing together as a team all of the time," said Hill.

This week the Lady 'Cats will host Wheatland and Torrington. During those two matches Hill will look to get her middles playing more aggressively as well as improving the team's blocking.

"Our blocking has always been a struggle for us because we don't have the height. Our middles are long and athletic, but right now they don't have the aggressive mentality. Like going in for quick stuff and going in for slides and they can run the net that was apparent this weekend," said Hill.

Playing their conference schedule will be a nice change of pace for Thermopolis after starting the season with three tournaments. Now the Lady 'Cats can focus on one team at a time as they battle for positioning for the 3A East regional tournament on Oct. 27-28 in Newcastle.

"Coming off tournaments where it's go, go, go. It will be a nice shift of tempo for the girls to focus on one opponent at a time. It will be great for our confidence to take two wins this weekend," said Hill.

Friday that Lady 'Cats host Wheatland Friday at 6 p.m. and Torrington Saturday at 3 p.m. Both matches will be played at Hot Springs County High School.