Trojans fall in Battle for the Spike
In hopes of bringing The Spike back to the west side, the West volleyball team faced off with City High in their brand new gym on Sept. 30.
Emma Stammeyer ’24 attempts to hit the ball past two City High blockers during the Battle for the Spike at City High on Sept. 30.
October 1, 2021
It has been a long three years since The Spike has been in the hands of the West volleyball team after the annual Battle for the Spike when the cross-town rivals face-off despite knocking the Little Hawks out of regionals last year. In search of the coveted golden spike, the Trojans made their way across the river to take on City High in their new gym that opened this fall as a part of their $30 million in renovations.
The favored Trojans stuck with City to start the first set with the help of a big block on the right side from seniors Raina Pfeifer and Carmen Crabtree to tie it at 6. West quickly fell behind as they struggled to defend the Little Hawks’ outside hitter Claire Ernst ’24. The Trojan went on to allow six straight points to go along with some self conflicted errors and dropped the first set 25-11.
With plenty of momentum, City jumped out to a 13-4 lead in the second set. West showed some signs of life after Sydney Woods ’22 started to warm up and get one of her five kills on the night to bring the Trojans within four. More uncommon errors and some questionable calls led West right back where they were the first set, down big. The Little Hawks took the second set 25-13.
Only one win away from the sweeping, City and their outside hitters stayed hot through the first half of the third set to give the Little Hawks a 20-15 lead. Head Coach Keeley Arnold’s squad was in need of some energy as their chances at another set dwindled. The Trojans started to look like themselves after going on a 7-1 run behind some key digs from Alaina Greenlee ’23 and Katherine Kouba ’22. Woods and Melae’ Lacy ’24 kept things rolling with kills from both sides to make it 24-23 West, and force a City High timeout. The Little Hawks responded once again with an Ernst kill after some miscommunication at the net stumped the Trojans and City took the third 26-24.
The Trojan volleyball team will be back in action on Oct. 5 at home against Mississippi Valley Conference opponent Dubuque Senior.
