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Volleyball players on track to break records

With the volleyball season still young, the Lady Phantoms have not only surpassed last year's win record; some school records also face a challenge.

"If they keep it up, three or four girls are on track to break school records for kills, blocks, digs and aces," said Head Coach Jim Baum. "A lot of those records were set in 1999 and 2002."

In the running are Miram Bankston, Megan Timeche and Lizzy Tobin.

"Someone's going to nail one of those records," Baum said.

The team had their second face-off against Ash Fork on Wednesday. Baum said that at the Joseph City meet at the start of the season, the Phantoms struggled but couldn't post double digits. Though they didn't win, they were able to hold their own last week.

"Ash Fork kind of smashed us on that Saturday in Joe City," he said. "Scoring in double digits was one of the goals that we set. The girls had the right attitude."

Final scores in varsity play were 25-11, 25-12 and 25-7, and 25-11, 25-19 and 25-16. The JV girls played a tighter game, ending with a final score of 25-23 and 25-23.

Last weekend, the Lady Phantoms were on the road, losing to Fredonia on Friday in close matches, ending with 25-23 and 25-20. The JV girls won their first match and lost their second though they did post a win in that match.

Standout varsity players this weekend were Miriam Bankston, Chelsea Palmer and Lizzy Tobin, who, said Baum, "really blossomed."

On the JV side, Marisa Timeche, Megan Timeche and Monique Streit turned in superior performances, Baum said.

"In all of those matches they had a lot of aces and a lot of kills," he said.

Though he considers every team member an MVP, he said Bankston deserves extra recognition for her focused play on both teams.

"She was the front runner in Fredonia with 12 aces, and seven kills, between varsity and JV," he said.

Megan Timeche wasn't far behind, bolstering the JV stats with five aces, two kills and nine digs.

"That helped the JV save those games," said Baum.

At Beaver Dam on Saturday, the final scores for varsity were 25-21, 25-20 and 25-14 in favor of Beaver Dam. There was only one JV match with a final score of 25-15 and 25-10, also for Beaver Dam.

At this outing, Baum said Megan Timeche and Bankston were close for MVP honors, with Megan edging ahead on numbers and attitude.

"She was intense," said Baum. "She played the entire day in all three matches."

She ended with 19 aces on serves and 19 digs.

"Her setting was incredible, it was right on," Baum said.

Bankston, meanwhile, had 17 aces, nine kills and 10 good digs.

Tobin offered up six aces, seven kills and seven good digs.

"It was like she all of a sudden understood what needed to happen for her outside hitting," said Baum.

Baum said another key player this weekend never set foot on the court.

"I'd like to thank Ray, our bus driver," he said. "He was awesome. He's just a great guy and we appreciate his driving."

The Lady Phantoms play Joseph City at home this Friday with JV games at 3 and 5 p.m. and a varsity game at 4 p.m.


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