Pressure is condensing in the air. The rowdy crowd bordering the
Panther volleyball court is ready to erupt.
Woodland Park jumps out to a 5-1 lead. The team soon proves too
pumped up for Coronado to handle, opening leads of 11-3 and 22-10.
The Panthers win the first set of the Sept. 14 match
25-15.
The Cougars reverse the fortunes of momentum in the second set,
taking a 16-9 lead. Coronado continues to do what its opponent did
in the first set, reeling off six straight points – Woodland Park
had a streak of the same number in set one. A 25-14 Cougar win ties
the match at one.
Set three starts off close. The teams trade points until the
Panthers begin to win the long battles for points, with the ball
crossing the net many times between scores. Up 17-10, Woodland Park
builds the largest streak of the night – eight points – to win set
three.
The two sides of the crowd jeer at each other – they know a
furious pace will determine the tone in set four.
Coronado overcomes an early deficit to take a 22-17 lead. But
the lead changes again when the Panthers rally for six points in a
row. Their backs to the wall, the Cougars retake the lead and pull
off a 26-24 victory.
The Coronado and Woodland Park fans are holding their breath for
set five, all the while tossing chants back and forth across the
gym.
Panther teamwork takes over. Sophomore outside hitter Natasha
Bruins makes two kills with powerful spikes. Senior middle blocker
Cydnee Stilwell gives her team a 9-7 lead off a hard spike and an
ace.
The Panther crowd anticipates a crushing kill as senior middle
blocker Nichole Stilwell sets up at the net. Fans begin to roar
before Stilwell’s spike zips past the opposing defense. The senior
stomps down three kills in a row.
The Cougars are back on their heels, unable to find their
balance. Senior outside hitter Sunny Joeckel scores the 13th
Panther point with a spike. Nichole Stilwell blocks an opponent’s
shot to make the lead 14-8.
The end is a fitting picture of the entire night – several
Woodland Park players combine to block a Coronado shot and secure
the win. Excitement pours through the gym.
“We couldn’t stop talking in the team room after the game
because we were so excited,” Bruins said. “It was
awesome.”
The win marks four straight for the Panthers, dating back to the
last match of the Overland Tournament. Two victories came at the
expense of 5A schools, Mitchell and Coronado.
“Coronado’s always been a big volleyball school,” Nichole
Stilwell said. “We’re meshing on the court like no other. We
gel.”
Leadership fills the Woodland Park side of the court in every
match. The players are confident in each other’s
abilities.
“We can use anyone on the court at any time,” coach Stacy Roshek
said. “We have so many girls who can put the ball down when we need
them to.”
The team is ready to make some noise in the 4A Metro
League.
“They can do it, it’s all up to them,” Roshek said about her
girls. “They’re fired up and ready to keep playing, especially in
the league.”
As for the noise of the Panther faithful, the players know there
will be plenty more to cheer about this season.
“I think I’m starting to lose my voice,” Nichole Stilwell said
after the win. “They get us more pumped up, they feed into our
energy.”
“Wow,” Bruins said about the crowd with a laugh. “They support
us so much.”