Springhill Suites Invitational Lamar vs Portland Volleyball 9-14-19

 

Portland Pilot Shayla Hoeft 

(Albeit wearing a Nevada uniform)

There was a light overcast and some sprinkles as I pulled into the Pan-Am Center parking lot for this morning’s games.  The sun came out briefly, but then disappeared for the day.  There was a visiting fan out on the Pan-Am lawn with a cute wiener dog.  I’d changed shirts for today.  I decided last years’ Springhill Suites giveaway shirt was bad luck and changed to my lucky Aggie Football “Made History” t-shirt.  (It’s not really lucky anymore, though it did work for the WAC Softball Tournament last year 5-12-18, but not entirely.) 

Inside, I found Danny at his usual seat.  He was looking at his phone and had Goldie Hawn’s bio up on it.  That reminded me that Foul Play was on TV tonight.  I hadn’t seen that movie in years.  I told him my “flu theory” about last night’s game.  He told me there were a bunch of people sick at the What-a-burger he’d went to last night.  There was also a TB outbreak at an El Paso high school where he’d been at a tournament last week.  I was sitting somewhat nervously next to Danny for the rest of the game. 

Across the court, there was some drama.  Aggie fan Tom found some people in his usual seat.  He promptly shoo’ed them away.  The crowd for this game was listed at 392, which was much larger than the other non-Aggie games of the invitational.  I’m guessing most of that crowd arrived early for the Aggie game up next.  PA Ed was not there, as he’d be working the football game later.  I recognized the voice as the Softball PA and finally got to see him.  He did a good job for his first time calling volleyball.  The music playlist had changed and was now featuring a bunch of Taylor Swift, including some remakes in Spanish.  Gag.

Looking at the teams on court, the Portland Pilots seemed to have a size and height advantage, while the Lamar Cardinals seemed more athletic.  The Portland girl that twisted her ankle yesterday was on the bench with it wrapped, but was able to walk.  She did not look happy. 

Lamar Cardinal Annika Slovak

I had two favorites; one on each team.  Shayla Hoeft for the Pilots had her very curly blonde hair with dark roots pinned up beautifully.  With her dark eye shadow, she had a Goth Victorian look.  (Be still my heart.)  Like Julianna Salanoa on the Aggies, Shayla has an incredible body built to heroic proportions, but she’s very graceful.  On the other side, Lamar setter Annika Slovak had the best hair for the invitational.  Her style was a long straight blonde with dark highlights.  It had an incredible shiny, lustrous quality.  Her hair just shimmered on court.  Not to mention, Annika has a very pretty face.      

Set 1

Both teams seemed a bit sluggish to start, except for the Lamar reserves, which started off in sync with their cheering.  Lamar went up 4-1 early, as they hit the back line a couple of times.  Lamar briefly went up 6-1 when the up official overruled a net violation.  He then changed his mind after a conversation and made it 5-2.  Danny recognized this official and was not surprised by a controversial call.

The Pilots kept it close, but Lamar got a dump kill at 6-4.  Portland closed to 6-5, as Claire Forrest hummed in a kill.  Lamar kept up their lead on an ace by Kaitlyn Gil.  11-6, Dannisha House got a kill to the reserves’ chorus of “D’s House!”  At 12-6 Lamar, Portland took a timeout.  12-7, Portland had an ace by Kassidy Naone.  They can still serve well even when not playing the Aggies.  12-9, Shayla made one of her trademark slide kills. 

13-9 Lamar, Portland was called for a foul.  The player questioned the up official.  15-9, House put in an ace for the Cardinals.  17-11, Pilot Emma Scanlan made another great pancake dig here, but wasn’t able to get the dump shot afterward.  18-11 Lamar, timeout Portland.  19-11, a Pilot shot went out.  The Lamar reserves shouted, “O-u-t!  Out!  See ya!”  19-24, a long rally went to Portland. 

Some Grambling players came in to watch the match.  21-17 Lamar, another long rally that Lamar won on another dump shot.  21-19, Shayla got a kill.  21-20, Portland aced, but netted it on the next serve.  22-22, the Pilots tied it on a Cardinals’ attack error.  23-23, Shayla pounded one to tie it again.  Lamar would take a close Set 1, 25-23.  That was an entertaining set of volleyball.  The set ended on another questioned call.  The up and down officials conferred afterward.    

Set 2: Cardinals 1, Pilots 0

Aggie Sports Marketing staffer Nicole came by and chatted with Danny.  She was happy with the new PA’s performance.  I still didn’t get his name.  I’ve heard it a couple times, but it went by too quick.  Lamar started off this set with another dump shot kill.  The Cardinals tied it on a Portland out-serve, after the Pilots had gotten a couple of good kills.  Lamar took a 6-2 lead as their short serves seemed to be confusing the Pilots (just like the Pilots’ short serves were confusing the Aggies yesterday). 

6-3 Lamar, Shayla got a facial kill.  7-5, Portland was making a comeback, but served out on this point.  9-6, Shayla got a kill.  She’d had a couple of shots into the net before.  I have to mention that the girls on both teams were cleaning the court about every other point.  It wasn’t that warm inside, but they were really working up a sweat.  9-9, Kassidy aced to tie it.  The serve hit the Lamar libero, who was trying to dodge it.  10-10, Shayla hammered a kill at a defender’s feet.  13-13 tied again. 

14-13, Portland took the lead on a block.  Lamar took a timeout.  15-14 Portland, Lamar got a point on a free ball.  Coach Jordan had come in by this point and was watching.  20-18, McKenzie Bennett on Lamar had ace to keep it close.  22-19, Lamar won this point on another disputed call, but Portland pulled away to win it, 25-20. 

Set 3: Cardinals 1, Pilots 1

Some terrible rap music played during the half.  A pair of probably high school volleyball girls that were there with their dad, were grooving to it.  The crowd was still small enough to pick out individuals pretty easily.  Portland went out to a 2-0 lead.  Kellie Hughes hit an ace off the tape.  The Cardinals broke the run at 4-1.  They made a good block at 5-3.  6-5, Lamar closed up as Shayla whiffed on a swing.  7-5, Lamar put a serve into the net.

Emma aced for the Pilots at 9-5.  This team could serve well.  They ran up to an 11-5 lead.  Lamar netted a serve at 7-5.  13-7, Portland did the same.  On the sidelines, a couple of the Lamar girls were bundled up and one was using the exercise bike there.  On court, they were still cleaning sweat off the court constantly.  15-9, Claire won the rally on this point for the Pilots.  Both groups of reserves were screaming during the point. 

16-9 Portland, a Pilot kill went right into a Cardinal defender.  The Portland reserves made a bridge and danced under it.  17-9 Portland, Lamar took a timeout.  19-10, Portland made an out-serve.  During the break between points, the Lamar assistant coach shouted, “You ladies need to get excited if you want to win!”  I hope that advice wasn’t too technical for them.  I hope actual coaching is more involved than this.  Their coach and former Aggie player, Michelle Kuester, was much more calm and measured during Lamar’s matches.  23-12, the Cardinals looked confused as one of their digs dropped in untouched.  24-13, Shayla with a tip.  The Pilots cruised to a 25-14 Set 3 win.

Set 4: Pilots 2, Cardinals 1

People started arriving for the Aggie game.  The Aggie girls were also here watching.  The Cardinals had just about left the building as they went down 7-1 to start this set.  The Lamar bench started clapping and chanting “No!” during the serving run.  11-2, Katie Barker aced here for the Pilots.  11-4, after a long rally, Portland lost it on a double touch call. 

There were helicopter sounds outside.  I thought I’d heard AD Mario Moccia say that there’d be helicopter rides at the fan fest at the football, but I didn’t believe him.  14-7, the teams traded net balls.  15-7, Shayla got a dump kill.  18-8, Liz Reich made a dunk.  21-10, redhead McKenzie Schwan came in to serve.  (Redheads on the court will get attention.)  24-11, Shayla with another kill.  The Pilots finished off the set, 25-11, and the match, 3-1. 

Portland looked good with three players having double-digit kills.  Liz Reich led with 11, Shayla Hoeft had 15, and Claire Forrest had 10.   Lamar played well in Set 1 and up to the end of Set 2, but it felt like they were out of gas for the rest of the match.  Worse for them, they’re going to have to play the Aggies this evening.  The Lamar reserves never gave up though and cheered the whole way.         

Thankfully the next match, the Aggies versus Grambling, would be coming right up.  I didn’t think I could take another drive back-and-forth from home.  (Sorry if I phoned this one in.  This was actually the last recap I wrote for the invitational.)