As Wilsonville Volleyball enters the second half of league play, they still hold an undefeated league record against NWOC opponents. That includes their second victory of the season over Canby on Tuesday.
Canby came into the game with a 6-11 overall record and a 3-7 league record. Not only have they struggled so far this season, but the first time these squads faced off, Wilsonville dominated in a three-set sweep. The scores of those sets were 25-2, 25-6, and 25-20 respectively.
Wilsonville started right where they left off the first time playing the Cougars, taking the first set 25-14. However, in the second set, Wilsonville seemed to take the foot off the gas, with Canby not only taking the second set but looking dominant and leading throughout the whole set, which ended 25-17.
However, Wilsonville regrouped and took the last couple of sets in convincing fashions by scores of 25-16 and 25-13 in sets 3 and 4. Wilsonville looked better in the latter half of the game and needs to keep up that level of play as they get closer and closer to the playoffs.
After the game, Olivia Lyons said, “It felt great to beat Canby. They are a great league opponent and put up a good fight. We need to fix some of our errors, and we did that over the last couple sets.”
Wilsonville has to quickly turn around as they travel to Park Rose on Thursday. Ashlyn Hartford spoke on what that matchup will mean to Wilsonville, saying, “This team feels a strong drive to play well and at a high level. We need to keep up the intensity as we play our league for the second time”
As for Canby, the Cougars’ next contest is also on Thursday when they travel to Putnam. The Cougars will have to get hot to end the season if they want a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
As for the rest of the year, Wilsonville will go through league play for a second time before the playoffs start, and even the players know there is improvement to be had. “We need to continue to focus on our weaknesses and fix them,” Olivia Lyons said, continuing with the statement, “We are going into every game with the mindset that the only thing that can stop us is ourselves”
Wilsonville plays Parkrose on Thursday before playing in the West-Linn Tournament on Saturday. The Wildcats will look to improve over the rest of the regular season as the playoffs loom just under a month away.