Kelly Walsh volleyball team is clicking on all cylinders
Kelly Walsh volleyball is enjoying a well-deserved weekend off.
The Trojans swept rival Natrona County 3-0 (25-8, 25-10, 25-23) on Thursday for their 12th consecutive victory. KW hasn't lost since a 2-1 defeat to defending state champion Laramie in the Gold Bracket semifinals of the Gillette Invite on Sept. 7.
KW (20-2, 3-0 Class 4A West Quadrant 1) avenged that loss last weekend with a 2-0 sweep of the Plainsmen in the Gold Bracket championship game of the Casper Invite. It was Laramie's first loss of the season.
"I think we're starting to gel really well together," KW head coach Jeff Barkell said after Thursday's match. "We played the offseason without Gia (Ireland) and without Alyx (Zieman), so there were certain kids in the lineup in the offseason that were used to doing things. But then you add Gia and Alyx in there and it takes a little bit of time to get in a rhythm with a few new faces.
"At this point, they're figuring out, 'Oh, I know what you're going to do, and I know what I should do,'" he added. "Some of that is coming together."
It all came together against the Fillies on Thursday night. Kelly Walsh won the first set, 25-8, and the second set, 25-10, before holding on for a 25-23 win in the third set.
Ireland, a sophomore setter, and Zieman, a senior libero, were instrumental in the victory. Ireland finished with a game-high 18 assists and Zieman had a game-high 11 digs.
They were part of a balanced attack that kept Natrona County (9-12, 0-3) off balance most of the night.
Senior Kendal Allaire, who leads the team with 2.98 kills per set, had 10 kills. Sophomore Lillian Hudson added 10 kills and eight digs and senior Jordan Kroeger had nine kills and eight digs.
Senior Breckyn Fagot and junior Madyn Waring finished with five kills apiece. Waring, who was making her first varsity start against the Fillies, also had two blocks and had the match-winning kill off an assist from Ireland.
KW junior Noa Hodgin chipped in 16 assists and nine digs and Ireland added 10 digs.
"We have a lot of confidence and we're working really well together," Hudson said.
Hard to argue with that. The Trojans have won 29 of 31 sets during their current winning streak.
Waring, for one, believes the best is yet to come for the Trojans.
"I think we can be great," she said. "Not just good, but great."
Kelly Walsh has the weekend off before matches at Star Valley and Jackson next Friday and Saturday.
"It will be really nice to have a weekend where we can get over some illness and some injuries and then get back after it Monday," Barkell admitted.
PHOTOS: Trojan volleyball sweeps FilliesThe Kelly Walsh Trojan volleyball team sweeps Natrona County 3-0 (25-8, 25-10, 25-23) on Thursday, Sept. 26.
