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Highlands Today

LaBelle Edges Lake Placid In Five Games

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Lake Placid's Ali Baker (17) spikes the ball as LaBelle's Hannah Kitchenhoff (8) and Leah Kitchenhoff (5) go for the block during Monday night's match.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: October 3, 2007

LAKE PLACID – The will and effort was there, but the ending didn't turn out as planned.

Lake Placid's volleyball team had suffered only one regular-season loss heading into Monday night's match against LaBelle, and the Green Dragons were out for revenge, as the Cowboys had beaten them earlier in the season.

Despite a spirited comeback, LaBelle knocked off Lake Placid 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 18-25, 15-12, improving the Class 3A Cowboys to 6-8 on the season, with the disappointing loss dropping the Class 3A Green Dragons to 12-6.

"I didn't like the outcome of tonight's match," said Lake Placid coach Marilyn Jones. "The girls are disappointed because they really wanted to avenge that loss down in LaBelle.

"We made a nice comeback to force a fifth game, but we had trouble with some of LaBelle's sets and we struggled with our serving all night and that will cost you in a close match."

Lake Placid got things rolling early in game one, and, led by outside hitter Kristen Massung's team-high nine kills, cruised to the easy win.

The second game was close with neither team able to pull away.

A block and a spike by Lake Placid's Sierra Weaver tied the score at 18, but several poor serves hurt the Dragons, and strong net play by LaBelle outside hitters Hannah Kitchenhoff and Alexa Redish paced the Cowboys to the win.

LaBelle, with momentum on its side, jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the third game.

After a time out, Lake Placid roared back to tie the game at 14.

The Cowboys regrouped and with Redish and Hannah Kitchenhoff dominating the net, pulled away to take command of the match.

Lake Placid came out fired up, and Tara Weeks, who had eight kills and three blocks, led the way at the net and Keneisha Hamilton scored several points with her serves as the Dragons took a 20-17 lead.

LaBelle made several errors and Weaver's cross-court spike gave the Dragons the win to force a 15- point finale.

The Cowboys, paced by Kash's strong serves and stellar net play by Brianna Sanchez, grabbed a 7-3 lead.

Leah Kitchenhoff drilled a pair of kill shots and blocks by Redish and Hannah Kitchenhoff put LaBelle up 13-10.

Lake Placid made one last run, but a poor serve and a dink shot by Hannah Kitchenhoff gave the game and the match to the Cowboys.

"We didn't serve well and it hurt us, especially in the last game," Jones said. "The girls are a little emotional right now because they wanted to win so bad.

"But overall, this loss doesn't really matter that much because it's not a district loss, and we're going to use it as a learning tool and get ready for our district games the rest of the season."

Lake Placid, which is 2-0 in District 10, faced Frostproof on Tuesday night.

"Frostproof always plays us tough," Jones said. "They have a solid team and they are especially tough at home."

Results from Tuesday night's match were not available at press time.

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