The regular season is complete with the Lady Braves wrapping up their schedule with three matches in three days before next week’s 4A West Regionals in Casper.

The volleyballers defeated #5 Evanston 3-1 on senior night in Afton on Thursday and then swept the Fillies at Natrona County on Friday night. The team had a bit of a setback on Saturday against the Riverton Wolverines, dropping the contest in five sets. The Lady Braves finished the regular season with a record of (16-14) and went (4-2) in the 4A Southwest.

Senior night was an incredible atmosphere for high school volleyball as students, fans and the band showed out for the contest against the #5 Evanston Red Devils. The Lady Braves pounced on the visitors who really didn’t gain their footing until late in the second set.

The balanced hitting of several different Star Valley players such as Shayna Casey, Ruby Hill, Ady Christiansen, Peyton Hokanson and Charlee Neuenschwander kept the Devils out of their groove.

“That was a blast,” remarked coach Kalin Schwab. “I had asked Mr. Sand about the band coming and I’ve never been to a volleyball match where the band was there and I was glad they came. They’re just so good. It was also a big one because Evanston was ranked fifth and that was our first conference loss and we lost it in the fifth so there was a lot of motivation going into that one.”

Schwab also noted the Lady Braves had four players with double-digit kills in the match. “I feel like if you can do that you are tough to beat,” he said of the totals. “Ruby actually led us in kills with 11 and totally played super well.  She had four blocks as well.” Casey and Peyton Hokanson matched Hill with 11 kills. Ady Christiansen added seven of her own.

The sweep over Natrona might have been a little misleading according to Schwab.

“That was a sweep but Natrona’s pretty tall and physical. “It was a sweep but it was contested. They will be scary on their home court for regionals.”

Neuenschwander led the team with ten kills in the effort while Casey and Hokanson had eight and seven respectively.

The loss to Riverton wasn’t for a lack of playing well, but more a tip of the hat to the Wolveriens according to Schwab.

“Shayna wasn’t able to play with an injury and we’re hoping to have her back bye Friday, but we came out really aggressive and they were on their senior night,” he stated. “Their one senior just really put them on her back. We didn’t hit terribly, they just played really good defense. They played really well and we lost in five.”

Hokanson led the team with 13 kills while Neuenschwander had 11. Cameron Mackey, Avery England and Peyton Hokanson each had 18 digs in the effort.

The loss to the Wolverines put Star Valley as the #2 seed from the district and they will face the Rock Springs Tigers (11-18)(1-4) to open the 4A West Regionals which will be hosted by Natrona County High School.

“Unless you’ve been to regional volleyball, you may not know what it’s like,” Schwab said. “Every team has something to play for. They all want to qualify and they will all be a battle. If you see the players, wish them luck and give them your support. It will be a battle. There are no gimmies.”

SVI Media will have audio-only coverage of the Lady Braves run at the 4A West Regionals here at svinews.com.

Results

Won vs Evanston (3-1)(25-12, 25-19, 21-25, 25-19)

Won at Natrona County (3-0)(25-22, 25-23, 25-18)

Lost at Riverton (3-2)(25-14, 22-25, 25-19, 23-25, 10-15)