Lady Broncos prep for Homecoming match against Reardan on Oct. 13

The Lady Broncos had a busy week with two home games and one match in Asotin.

The week began with the team being defeated by Almira-Coulee/Hartline during their match on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

ACH claimed victory by winning three of the four sets. The scores of the sets for the Broncos were 21-25, 19-25, 25-22, 14-25.

Head Coach Cari Galbreath said the team sustained a decent level of play up until the fourth set. She said the mentality of accepting defeat before the match ended proved to cause the Lady Broncos to mentally shut down during the fourth set.

The team suffered a loss to their usual line up as Peyton Curtis remained on the sidelines due to a back injury.

Tessa Jantz and Emma Aldrich stepped up defensively by staying low and diving on the ground to prevent ACH from scoring. They each had seven digs.

Despite the score, Jantz challenged ACH with her powerful hitting and claimed the most kills for the Lady Broncos with 10.

The Lady Broncos still require additional practice on the precision of their serving, as the only players to serve aces were Rachel Schell, Jantz and Tessa O’Brien, who each had one.

Galbreath said offense unforced errors were the second cause of the team’s defeat. The team had three serving errors and 10 hitting errors during the match.

Miller remained strong on sets and led the match in assists with 19.

Jantz remained determined to prevent her opponents from scoring and maintained strong hands at the net. She claimed the most blocks of the match for the Lady Broncos with three.

The Lady Broncos put up a tough fight against ACH and had some good rallies, said Galbreath.

Galbreath said she noticed the team would lose focus during a rally, which made them unable to finish strong. She said the team would practice remaining focused in high-pressured situations and maintaining a game winning mentality.

During their match on Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Gilson Gym, the Lady Broncos trampled Tekoa-Rosalia and won the match in three sets. The scores of the sets were 25-21, 25-18 and 25-13.

Despite the winning scores, Galbreath said the team still struggled with playing down to Tekoa-Rosalia’s level of play. Galbreath said she would like to see the team remain at the higher level of play they are capable of, despite their opponent’s pace.

Schell displayed precise serving by claiming five aces during the match and Miller trailed behind her with three.

Galbreath said she remained impressed with the team’s offensive game. The Lady Broncos challenged their opponents by being strategic in their attacking.

Jantz proved to be a powerhouse on the court by using her powerful hitting ability. She led the Broncos in kills with 17.

Galbreath stated Jantz played an amazing game and provides a leadership role to the team. Tekoa-Rosalia did not stand a chance against her strikes at the ball, she added.

Miller showcased a strong passing game during the match. She remained quick on her feet and set her teammates up to earn points in her position as setter.

Miller claimed the most assists with 29 in the match.

Aldrich greatly benefitted her team by displaying excellent defense throughout the match. She led the game in digs with four and Miller claimed two.

Overall, Galbreath said the Lady Broncos were victorious against Tekoa-Rosalia because of their higher offensive skill set.

“Offensively we tried to be smarter,” she added.

The Lady Broncos claimed another victory during their match on Friday, Oct 7, in Asotin.

The team continued their streak and beat Asotin in three sets with the scores of 25-17, 25-18 and 25-21.

Galbreath said she did not know what to expect from Asotin because they are new to the league.

The team remained as one unit on the court and encouraged each other to play their best, she explained.

Schell continued to serve well and led the match in aces with six.

One player stood out to Galbreath during Friday night’s match. Aldrich proved to be influential offensively by attacking well and providing a positive attitude during intense situations, said Galbreath.

Aldrich played a great game and benefitted her team with her determination to be a strong force on the court.

Jantz claimed the most kills with nine and Aldrich followed close behind with six.

Aldrich also displayed a great defensive game by staying low during serves and diving for balls. She led the match in digs with three.

Miller assisted her team in earning points by using precise passing. She proved to be successful by claiming the most assists with 24.

The Lady Broncos still need some practice on their mental game, said Galbreath. They tend to take mental breaks during matches and have a difficult time redirecting their focus to maintaining strong, consistent players.

Community members can support the Lady Broncos at their Homecoming match on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m. against Reardan.