Lady Hornets keep perfect streak alive
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

Contributed Photo 2007 Lady Hornets Members of the Lady Hornet varsity volleyball team include (front, l-r) Gabby Foster, Lauren Gresham, Sarah Williamson, Kirsten Machicek, Kierra Thornton, (back, l-r) Coach Bryan Branch, Katie Brown, Amber Bain, Amanda Popp and Coach Lisa Koenig. Not pictured are Beverly Holik and Kelsi Kutac.

The Lady Hornets moved one step closer to a perfect district volleyball record Friday.

Louise hosed Woodsboro and earned a quick 3-game victory to move to 7-0 in district play.

Sophomore setter Kirsten Machicek attributes the Lady Hornets' stellar record to great passing, which leads to big hitting at the net.

"We just have good passing," Machicek said. "Once you get that pass and I get that set, then they can make that hit. It feels so good because we've never been in the playoffs before and we've never been winning like we have and we've never been undefeated." Machicek started setting for Louise her freshman year and in her second year has become a major team leader. She is comfortable with her job now, but admitted the transition from junior high to high school last year was not so easy.

"I had a pretty big position and I knew I had to take an extra step to get ready for that," she said. "I just got mentally focused on that and physically prepared myself."

With last year's experience, she knows how to prepare and succeed on the court this season.

"I just try to relax and not be so nervous. I just play my game, relax and I know everything is going to be all right."

As the leader of the offense, the setter's main job is to feed the ball to the team's hitters. In Amber Bain and Sarah Williamson, Machicek said she knows once she gets them the ball, chances are it will go straight to the floor.

"Coach (Bryan) Branch always tells me to set it to them because he knows they can hit it and I know that," Machicek said. "Then Gabby (Foster) is pretty good too. She's out there waiting and she's pretty good hitting this year. I know I can count on them to get the ball down."

Machicek pushed Louise's offense to a 25-18 win in game won and continued to set up the Lady Hornet hitters in the next two games.

Bain had great games at the net for Louise to finish out the match. The Lady Hornets won the last two games with scores of 25-11 and 25-19.

"We were a little nervous," Bain said. "We won against them in five games at their home, but I think it's awesome that we're 7-0. We all played really well tonight and worked well together."

The Lady Hornets traveled to Runge Tuesday and will return home to face Tivoli Friday with playoffs approaching.