Yellow Jackets win thriller
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By Dave Utnik
Published: October 20, 2008
Pink and green aren’t necessarily her favorite colors, but they do make Davis smile. And that is important.
“Every time I look down I just get happy,” the Osbourn Park sophomore said.
Davis was in an especially good mood on Monday. And her shoelaces were only a small part of the reason.
Everywhere the Yellow Jackets’ dynamic rookie looked there was something to be excited about. A volleyball season that began with so much uncertainly has become a nightly wonder for Davis and her teammates.
And if she thought winning two matches in one evening was a thrill, then Davis was really in for a treat last night as Osbourn Park earned its most impressive and significant victory of the season with a suspense-filled 15-25, 25-15, 25-23, 28-30, 15-12 decision over arch rival Forest Park.
“I haven’t really gotten to be in a big competition with them so I’m really happy that I’m a part of it this year,” Davis said. “This is a big accomplishment.”
On the final evening of the regular season, Davis played perhaps her best match of the season, combining for nine kills, six digs and six aces.
“I really wasn’t expecting to get this much playing time,” she said. “I’ve really been trying to work on it. I’ve been observing some of my teammates so that I can get up like they do.”
Davis’ role models were visible all over the court. Junior middle hitter Tori Price had 18 kills, four blocks and 12 digs, while sophomore Aricquel Payne finished with 10 kills and 11 digs and junior outside hitter Andrea Testerman added 10 kills and 12 digs.
There were probably a few players on the other side of the net that Davis would be proud to emulate.
Kellie Goss showed why she’s regarded as one of the nation’s top-rated middle hitter by combin-ing for 17 kills, 11 blocks and 16 digs, while Rachael Goss had 14 kills and Emily Stewart 13 for the Bruins, who are tied for first place in the Cardinal District.
“The rivalry will be there for a while,” Forest Park coach Jonathan Bukva said.
Davis will make sure of that. So will Forest Park’s junior setter Stephanie Saunders, who had six aces, and sophomore middle Sarah Jones, who contributed five blocks.
“We’re almost there,” Bukva said. “There’s just something missing but we’re on the cusp of find-ing it.”
The Jackets needed a couple of weeks to find their rhythm too. Earlier this season, they lost to Forest Park, but there is a different mindset now.
Even after the visiting Bruins rallied from a 22-16 deficit last night to force a fifth game, the Jackets found a way to earn their 15th victory in 20 matches.
Sophomore setter Nikki McMillan was responsible for most of OP’s 53 kills and the back row, led by Rachel Fening with 16 digs, came up with enough big plays to outlast the area’s most powerful attack.
“We can’t think about how hard they hit. We have to think about how well we have to play,” Fening said.
That’s what Davis did too.
She served an ace to finish game three and revealed the natural athletic ability that has the Jackets so excited about the future.
“We’ve got that fire now,” Fening said. “I think we’ve really got our game together.”
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