Providence sweeps Pioneers
By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

Providence has seen it all before. A team that has been to the state finals over the course of several years will eventually find itself in a tough battle.

The Panthers found themselves in one against Watauga Thursday night at Lentz-Eggers Gym. And though the Pioneers did not give much away, Providence beat Watauga 3-0, winning 25-18, 26-24 and 25-20.

“They didn’t make a lot of mistakes,” Pioneers coach Kim Pryor said. “They got some good digs and got some good blocks. They put together strings of plays and strings of points and they are a seasoned team. The know what to do at the right time.”

Watauga (23-5), looked ready to be blown out by the Panthers in the second game. Providence (21-7), leading 8-7, went on a 10-1 run to claim an 18-8 lead. But Watauga made its final statement of the season by scoring the next 11 points.

Katelyn Creed served up all 11 points, getting an ace during the stretch and giving the Pioneers some momentum they had not enjoyed since the first game. Katie Tester, Maddi Bakken and Meghan Combs each had a kill during the stretch and Chandler Butler crossed the Panthers with a well-placed set that ended up in the back corner of the Providence court.

Providence was able to regroup and though Watauga served for the game, Providence answered and was able to score the final four points to win.

“We started playing about halfway through the second game,” Pryor said. “For whatever reason, we didn’t get our feet under us until then, but I was very proud of the way we fought back in the second game.”

Watauga, which has relied on good defense and good serving all season, got plenty of both Thursday. Marissa Green finished with 26 digs, while Creed had 14. Lydia Sherwood finished with 12 digs, and both Emily Wood and Chandler Butler added 10 digs each.

But Providence’s offense had plenty of power and kept Watauga on the defensive. Often, it meant Watauga had to settle for giving a free ball back to the Panthers and allowing them to set up offensively for another attack.

Watauga’s offense was led by Combs, who had seven kills. Tester had six and Nicole Tesh five. Butler, who dished out 52 assists in a five-game win over Greensboro Grimsley last Tuesday, settled for 21 assists against Providence.

Watauga took a 6-2 lead in the third game, but providence roared back with four straight points to tie.

Watauga retook the lead by going up 17-12, but was outscored 6-1 and the game was tied again 18-18.

Watauga got a kill from Combs, but it would be the last time the Pioneers would lead the game. Providence outscored the Pioneers 7-1 to win the game and the match.

“The Pioneers lose two seniors — Creed, Brett Bailey and Sarah Shields — from the 2007 edition. Tester, Wood, Butler, Combs, Sherwood, Greene, Holly Henson and Elizabeth Miller were all juniors, while Bakken is a sophomore.

They’re an experienced team and they’ve been to the finals of the state playoffs for many, many years. They draw from that experience. Next year, we’re going to go into it with a lot more experience.”