Buena beats Casa Grande on senior night

By Matt Hickman
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Friday, Oct 31, 2008 - 05:20:04 am MST

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SIERRA VISTA — Prior to playing their final match at Ensign Gym, Buena’s seniors celebrated their time in Buena blue in a pregame ceremony.

Decked out in crowns and capes they made and embroidered themselves, the seniors closed out the regular season in strong fashion, winning 23-25, 25-19, 29-27, 25-17.

“It took us five hours — five hours of pizza and hot chocolate,” Buena senior hitter Amanda Hatfield said. “We did it at Amy Aguirre’s house. That’s like the craft center, the Michael’s of Sierra Vista.”

The pregame festivities may have had a hangover effect on the Colts as they dropped the first game 25-23 to the Cougars and the region’s leading hitter Bailey Wigness who finished with a match-high 26 kills.

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But behind middle hitter Brittany Hollabaugh, who led the Colts with 16 kills and five blocks, the Colts rallied to win the second game, and in the pivotal third game, Hollabaugh delivered a kill to fight off Casa Grande’s fourth chance at game point. On Buena’s first shot at game point, Hollabaugh’s block-for-kill ended it 29-27.

“We had a lot of increased production offensively, with Brittany, obviously, but Amanda Hatfield was much more effective offensively. We had a major height advantage and that advantage was working for us.”

In the fourth game, a Hollabaugh kill got the serve to Sydney Acree who served five consecutive points to put Buena ahead 12-6 and effectively put the game out of reach.

Hatfield’s kill against a Casa Grande double-block on the second try at match point ended it.

Angie Banks, Hatfield and Kacey Bock had 10 kills apiece, Megan Haymore had 10 digs and Banks added 12 digs and two aces. Megan Cooper and Acree had 15 assists apiece. Hatfield had four blocks.

Buena finished the season 5-11, good for 19th in the Class 5A Division I power point standings. In order to make state, the Colts will have to win their region tournament which starts Wednesday at Ironwood Ridge High School in Oro Valley.

As the No. 2 seed, Buena will take on the winner of Tuesday’s Casa Grande-Tucson match at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Should the Colts win that one, they would need to knock off top-seeded Salpointe in Thursday’s championship match.

Cooper said she thinks her team is as ready as ever for that challenge.

“Winning those long rallies was the key tonight,” Cooper said. “Even when we’ve won against stronger teams we haven’t won a lot of the long rallies.”

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volleyfan wrote on Nov 4, 2008 2:55 PM:

" I think its interesting that when a team does bad its about how bad the coach is, but when the team does well its all about how well the team played and how much heart they had while playing. Do the coaches of our girls get no credit for a win?They sure get all the gripes when they lose. You people make no sense to me at all. Could this team have had a better record? Yeah. But is it all the coaches fault. No. Does the coach deserve some recognition for the win? YES! "

Kacizzle wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:41 PM:

" hey I was the one who said that Amie's house was like the Michaels of Sierra Vista!! But it's cool-just know that the PROPS go to me. Keep it on the flip side! "

chelsea wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:20 PM:

" so now that you know keep your mouth shut. i do not appreciate you saying that i am pathetic. unbelievable. "

chelsea wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:18 PM:

" for your information "happy fan" i was not "pouting" i love my team and i am very proud of them. as my father said i did sprain my neck on monday, but i have been sick now for a month and it has been getting worse and that night i was feeling it the worst. dont even try to say i am pathetic, that is very rude considering you didnt even know what the situation was. i can not beilieve the people who have the nerve to say things like that, keep it to yourself. "

Ken R. wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:49 AM:

" To Happy Fan. If you don't know the reason for my daughter sitting there pouting as you call it. You should not even open your mouth! My daughter was there to support the team as best she could, even though she should have been home in bed. She sprained her neck in practice on Mon. and has not felt well since, with headaches everyday. If you want to question my daughters loyalty to this team, why don't you say who you really are and we can compare notes. "

sidkneefan wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:05 PM:

" Sydney Acree is the Best!!! Forget buena.....I'm thinking 2012 Olympics!!! Yeah Sydney!!! you GO!!! "

Subscriber wrote on Oct 31, 2008 3:21 PM:

" Thank you for the article and picture, it's so nice to get some press coverage- however, could we get a picture of a senior on senior night? By the way, I am not a senior, senior parent, etc? The young lady you pictured is a great player and adorable, but it would be nice to see a senoir not previously seen, especially on their last night- "

Spectator wrote on Oct 31, 2008 2:01 PM:

" Woohoo way to dive Sydney!! "

Happy Fan wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:24 AM:

" Buena did amazing last night! The girls worked together and stayed strong as a team. I was dissapointed however to see a player who is injured or what not pouting on the bench the whole time not even cheering for her team. That is pathetic since this is a game of teamwork and unity. The coaching was maybe reasonable but like we all know..could be way better. Good luck in regionals Buena! "

Sister wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:09 AM:

" I am SO incredibly proud of our girls last night. They absolutely played their hearts out. For those of us that were attending the last game of their senior girl, it was extremely emotional. I just want to say that I think every girl on the team has a great deal of talent and they have done us proud. Kacey Bock, in particular, I couldn't be more proud of. She goes out there every game with so much heart and puts everything she has into every game. You ROCK sister and I love you! "