GUERNSEY – The Guernsey-Sunrise girls volleyball team continued to enjoy success on the court as they played hard-nosed volleyball against a very tough Lingle-Ft. Laramie team in Lingle Friday night, and although they lost 3-0, the scores were indicative of a Viking team that has improved greatly over last season.

The scores on Friday were 25-11, 25-20 and 25-12. The girls who are growing up and coming of age had some very incredible volleys with Lingle and instead of watching balls hit the floor, Vikings are throwing themselves into the fray and hardcourt diving.

For the game, Rylie Thompson led in kills with four and also led in aces with two. Paige Andrews was 100% at the service line for the game and led the team in digs with five. Juliana Schiele led the team with three blocked shots.

A week ago Saturday the Lady Vikings recorded their first victory in two years. This past Saturday they once again recorded a nonconference win against Midwest, but are currently in third place in the conference standings.

Midwest came into town and as most teams do, they underestimate the Vikings and figure that it’s going to be an easy win for them. This is not the same Viking team that has been on the floor the past two seasons. They seem to be jumping higher, spiking harder and digging with a tenacity that has kept even impossible volleys alive.

The Vikings, even after a loss the night before, came out with their heads high and their confidence level at a comfortable level. The first game belonged solely to the Vikings which took a commanding lead. Late in the game, the Oilers made a small rally, but not enough to make a difference and the Vikings won 25-19.

In the second game, they came out again, on fire and built a lead only to have their momentum go south. Although they battled, the timing was out of sync and they fell 25-19. The lack of momentum and the loss played havoc with their heads and again in the third game, Midwest was commanding the dominance. Before game four, head coach Mindy Kelley who was in no mood for another loss was stern as she said, “I don’t know what is going on out there, but that’s not the way you play. Whatever’s wrong, FIX IT.”

The Vikings went out on point from the service line and never gave up on one single volley. They built a 23-8 lead and eventually came away with the dominating win, 25-11. Tied at two games apiece meant a fifth abbreviated game to 15. Although Midwest took off out of the gate, the Vikings did something they had not done in the past, they didn’t give up when they got behind. They never stopped believing they could win. It was a nail-biter but the Vikes came away with a 15-11 victory.

Atwood, Thompson and Andrews all led the team with three kills, Thompson led the team with 10 aces, Schiele led the team with three blocked shots and Thompson led the team in digs with five.

The girls will play at Rock River this Thursday evening.