Nelson rocks Lancers

By Laura Clark

Published: September 3, 2008

Nelson’s blend of senior leadership and young talent overcame a strong Amherst front row on Aug. 28. The Govs beat the Lancers 3-1 at Amherst in a non-district match.

“I thought we started out slow,” Gov coach Vicki Crawford said. “We certainly came back in the first game. We didn’t get down, and our passing and hitting were fantastic.”

The Govs lost the first game 27-25, in what was a rusty start for both teams with several missed serves and unforced communication errors. Both teams played better as they picked up the pace.

Nelson kept a steady lead on Amherst in the second game, winning 25-20. Sarah Buckley and Erika Toliver found their rhythms on the front and picked up numerous points for the Govs with tips and cross-court spikes.

Toliver, a sophomore, said Buckley, a senior, helped her transition from junior varsity to varsity.

“She brings everyone’s confidence up,” Toliver said. “She showed me how to spike.”

Of 33 attempted hits, Toliver had 19 kills against Amherst. Her success on the front row often started with another sophomore, Brittany Crawford. As libero, Crawford is an all-time back row player, digging up hits for senior setter Shay Morazes to run the offense.

“She makes really good passes. She’s also doing a great job on the service line,” Vicki Crawford said.

Brittany Crawford had 23 digs and three aces against Amherst.

Morazes set a new school record with 46 assists. She also had four aces and four digs.

Amherst didn’t go away through the third and fourth games. Lancers Renesha Chiles, Lauren Taylor and Courtney Madison kept the net action lively. Amherst had a five-point lead halfway through game three.

Outside hitter Jennifer Payne teamed up with junior middle blocker Tashia Crawford for some stuff blocks and kills to tie up the game several times.

The stalemate was broken when Amherst couldn’t handle back-to-back serves by Brittany Crawford. Toliver and Tyrah Stewart also picked up kills to win the game 25-20.

The fourth game was close as well, but Nelson pulled out another 25-20 game when an Amherst net violation and Brittany Crawford ace finished the match.

“I think undoubtedly they were quicker to the ball,” Lancer coach Dennis Gilbar said. “They play defense really, really well.”

Vicki Crawford was impressed with how the front row responded to the previous day’s practice emphasis on the middle. She tells the players, “You can be the game changer. Get a big block. Get a big dig. Get a big kill. It pumps everybody up.”

All nine of Crawford’s healthy girls are playing, and they have an understanding of their job on the team, she said. Nelson is coming off a three-game sweep of Buckingham and second-place finish in the Orange Invitational.

The Govs won their pool during the Aug. 23 tournament, and then lost 2-0 to Louisa in the final.

Crawford used the preseason games as a way to put the pieces together on and off the court. She returns just three varsity players from last year, and said the underclassmen have taken to seniors Morazes, Buckley and Payne.

“I think it was a really beneficial day. It was a fun day, and we played well,” Crawford said.

The Govs travel to Altavista today for their first Dogwood District game.