Like they have so many times before this season, the Bethlehem Banshees got off to a hot start in the 5th Region Volleyball Tournament opener Monday night.
And, just like they have so many times before this season, the Banshees cooled off a bit in the second set.
In the end, however, Bethlehem earned a three-set sweep of Green County – winning 25-8, 25-21, 25-11 at Nelson County High School.
“I think we played really consistent in the first set, and our serve-receive and serves are really strong,” the Banshees’ Alexis Lanz said. “That is what honestly helped us most of the first set.”
But in the second set, Bethlehem reverted to some old habits and didn’t approach the game with the same intensity as the first.
The Banshees led throughout the second game, but Lanz admitted that she and her teammates could have been much sharper.
“I think we got a little too comfortable in the set,” she said. “After a couple of timeouts, we realized that we needed to have more energy. And then we came out with a lot more power in the third game.”
Longtime coach Mike Shay said the trend has caught up with his team a couple of times this season, including in last week’s setback to Thomas Nelson in the 19th District Tournament championship match.
Only this time, the Banshees were able to power through and finish off the Dragons and advance to tonight’s semifinal round against Taylor County.
“It was just a little lineup change,” Shay said. “I changed some players around, just kind of looking for players to step up – and they did. We’re just trying to give different players a chance. There’s times our players struggle, so we want to get other players ready for that if we do fall into that situation. They’ve done a fantastic job.”
Bethlehem regrouped to dominate the third set, firmly putting Green County away.
The Banshees were never seriously threatened against the Dragons, but Lanz said it was frustrating the second set went the way it did.
“I don’t think we played that way because we thought we weren’t going to win,” she said. “I just think we get a little too comfortable, but I feel like we always regroup after we realize we need to get it together again.
“I think the third set was really good for us,” Lanz added. “I think we knew that we could do better than we were doing, and we really just put it together so we could win. I’m really excited to get to play again Wednesday, and I’m excited that we’re still able to get in the gym together.”
Bethlehem advanced to meet Taylor County, which moved on with a sweep of Central Hardin, in the first semifinal at 6 p.m. tonight.
The Banshees and Cardinals did not meet in the regular season, meaning Shay and Taylor County coach Stephen Zink spent all of Tuesday’s practices getting their teams prepared.
“Coming off a battle against Thomas Nelson, it was good for them to come out and get this win,” Shay said. “It’s a tremendous feeling to bounce back like we did, and it’s going to help us big time Wednesday.
“They’re going to be ready for it,” he added. “It doesn’t matter who we face, because both of them are very good teams. But we’re looking forward to the challenge, and we’ve beaten a lot of good teams this year. As long as we play our game, we can beat anybody.”