The Torrington High School Lady Blazers battled top-ranked Douglas in the final game of the regular season on Thursday.
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TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School Lady Wranglers closed out the regular season with a point-for-point battle against the Douglas Lady Bearcats at home on Thursday, October 24.
Douglas entered the match with an undefeated record, but the Lady Blazers showed up to defend the home court with tenacity. Each set remained neck-and-neck with the lead frequently changing hands, particularly in the first and second sets, as the Lady Blazers put up a fight against their top-ranked opponent.
In spite of the Lady Blazers’ best efforts, the Lady Bearcats ultimately scored the few points they needed to win each set by a narrow margin, 26-24, 25-23 and 25-21, and post a clean sweep.
The Lady Blazers enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed with a 6-4 conference record. The 3A regional championships take place in Douglas on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2. Torrington opens the tournament with a game on Friday at 11:45 a.m.
Three tight sets
An early three-point run by Douglas in the first set placed the Lady Bearcats ahead, 5-3. Torrington responded with an ace by senior Olive Osmera and a kill from sophomore Zoe Wilson to tie the set at five.
A deep dig by senior Jaycee Hurley placed the Lady Blazers in the lead, 6-5.
Douglas matched Torrington in scoring at six and pulled up by two points, 8-6. Junior Brooklyn Asmus fired off a kill and Wilson aced two serves to return the initiative to the Lady Blazers, 10-9.
The set reached a deadlock and 10 and 11 with Douglas regaining the lead, 13-11.
Senior Teryn Stokes and Osmera both replied with a kill and the set reached a stalemate at 13.
A kill by junior Trishell Pontarolo and blocks from Wilson and Pontarolo resulted in ties at 14 and 16, respectively.
Junior Natalie Long set over a point and Torrington took control of the scoreboard, 17-16. The Lady Blazers remained in the lead with an ace from Osmera and a kill by Wilson.
Douglas managed to tie the set again at 19 before Wilson powered over a kill to return the lead to Torrington, 20-19. Kills by Long and Osmera widened the Lady Blazers’ advantage, 22-20.
Douglas answered with a three-point run to match Torrington in scoring at 23. Osmera spiked over a kill and Torrington recaptured the lead, 24-23.
The Lady Bearcats tied the set a final time at 24 and went on to score game point, 26-24.
In the second set, an ace by Osmera resulted in a tie at four and Torrington briefly moved into the lead, 5-4, with a block from Asmus and Wilson. Douglas took over at six and steadily widened its lead to five, 14-9.
The Lady Blazers battled back with kills from Stokes, Osmera, Asmus and Wilson and the set reached a deadlock at 16. An ace by freshman Ellis Mortimore tied the set again at 18 before Douglas regained control at 19.
Despite kills by Wilson, Long and Mortimore, Douglas maintained the lead by two to score game point, 25-23.
A pair of aces by Osmera in the third set gave Torrington an early 5-4 lead. Douglas pulled ahead, following a tie at five and widened its lead to six midway into the set, 16-10.
The Lady Blazers succeeded in narrowing Douglas’ lead to a single point, 20-19, following a series of blocks by Stokes and Pontarolo and kills from Osmera, Long and Wilson.
Asmus delivered a kill and brought Torrington to within one point of overtaking Douglas, 22-21. The Lady Bearcats went on a four-point run resulting in game point, 25-21.
Stats
Wilson led the Lady Blazers in kills with eight. Osmera contributed six, Asmus and Long five apiece, Stokes three with one each by Mortimore and Pontarolo.
Osmera aced five serves, Wilson served up one ace and Mortimore one.
Long delivered 13 assists.
Osmera and Hurley covered the floor with 17 and 14 digs, respectively.
Defensively, Wilson and Pontarolo both tallied three blocks. Asmus reached up for two blocks with one each by Long and Stokes.