Lady Buffs season ends with losses to Big Horn, TR

The Greybull Lady Buffs gave everything they had and a little bit more when they played the Big Horn Lady Rams in the opening round of the 2A state volleyball tournament in Casper Nov. 5.

Playing what could have been their best match of the year, the Buffs went out swinging, not giving an inch. Their fight and determination gave them wins in the first two sets, 25-17, 25-18. 

Things were looking very good.

“We thought we had them. The girls came out flying,” said Coach Madison Moody. The third set was as tight as the first two, but this time the win went to Big Horn 24-26. The next two sets and the match went to the Rams, 19-25, 8-15.

There were some great stats in this match. Shayla Cheatham had 11 kills, 4 blocks, 3 aces and 23 digs; Kaylyn Burns had 35 digs, 2 assists and Kylin Stephens had 2 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces, 14 digs and 21 assists.

Emerald Jordan came in with 2 kills, 5 blocks, 2 solo digs; Brie  Benasky totaled 8 kills, 5 blocks; Mallory Brown had 2 aces, 6 digs; Elaina Howe had 7 kills, 8 solo blocks, 4 assisted  blocks, 1 ace and 3 digs. Abby Keisel had an ace, 5 digs, 7 assists; Kaitlynn Briscoe was credited with 5 kills and 8 assisted blocks.

When Howe went down with an injury, freshman Kelsie McColloch subbed in, had one hit attempt and was credited with a solo block. “Exciting moment for a freshman at state,” Moody said.

 With a one-day tournament, matches were almost  continuous, with little rest and small breaks, a huge difference from a normal state event that lasts three days. 

The Buffs met Tongue  River in a loser-out match. “I could tell  they were a little gassed from the loss  to Big Horn  but the girls went out wanting to win.” 

Greybull lost in three sets, with identical scores of 22-25. ‘The fight was there, but Tongue River just finished a little quicker than we did," she said.  Here are some stats:

Kills – Howe 6, Briscoe, Cheatham 5 each, Benasky 2, Keisel  1.

Blocks – Howe 4; Briscoe 3; Jordan, Chloe Harlow 2 each; Keisel 1.

Blocks:  Howe  4; Briscoe 3, Jordan, Harlow 2 apiece; McColloch 1.

Aces: Howe 6; Cheatham 2, Brown 1.

Digs: Burns 11, Cheatham 9, Keisel 5; Brown, Benasky 4 each;  Stephens 3.

Assists: Burns 11, Keisel 6.

Moody said the team “was pretty bummed after the loss.”  She told her players that they should be happy. “They got to go to state. With COVID 19, many schools didn’t even have sports, and those that did, not every team got to go to state at all.”

The coach said it was a great experience, especially for the younger players who will “hopefully get to do it again next year.”