Lambert sisters keep unbeaten Evangel Eagles rolling

By Dave Utnik

Published: October 9, 2008

The top of Krissy Lambert’s jersey slid across the far sideline Thursday night as the Evangel Christian eighth grader reached out with her right arm to redirect a volleyball that was inches from hitting the floor.
Even with her team on the verge of clinching a 25-19, 25-8, 21-25, 25-7 victory over Faith Baptist, Lambert didn’t want to give a point away while she was protecting the back row.
So she hit the floor and popped a dig back toward the net, where her sophomore sister, Janette, turned it into an assist.
“I don’t even think we’ve started to see what Krissy can really do yet,” Evangel Christian coach Tim Morrow said. “With her athleticism and the way she jumps, she’s going to give us a lot of opportunities.”
After playing a reserve role on the varsity squad as a seventh grader, Krissy Lambert has become one of the Eagles best back-row players in her first season as a starter. Every so often, she’ll knock down a kill on the front row as well, but right now serving and passing are her greatest assets.
It’s no coincidence, either, that Janette contributes in a similar way as a captain and the Eagles’ starting setter. The sisters are two years apart in age but they act and play more like twins for a 12-0 team that is attempting to capture an Old Dominion Association of Church Schools state championship for the fifth time since 2001.
“It’s a lot of fun playing with my sister. She’s shown me so much,” Krissy said. “We’re like best friends. She’s my hero because she’s done so much for me.”
The bond they now share began developing nearly a decade ago on the softball field, where Krissy and Janette play identical slow pitch positions — shortstop and pitcher. They are cheerleaders during the winter and both girls are also guards for Evangel’s varsity basketball team.
“We always play sports together,” Janette said. “We’re close in age and we like to be doing the same things.”
During the first weekend of the season, Krissy and Janette were named to the all-tournament team after helping the Eagles capture the Back To School Tournament title. Against the Conquerors on Thursday, they served as a perfect complement to the power-hitting front row duo of Jasmine Morrow (24 kills, 18 digs) and Amber Taylor (20 kills, 5 aces).
In addition to running the 5-1 offense, Janette had six digs and six service aces. Krissy, who is an opposite side hitter when she’s not on the back row, combined for six digs and four aces.
“You can tell they work together a lot,” coach Morrow said. “They’re tough and they’re very competitive. They have really good ball control and they play good defense. They sort of keep us going.”