By Dennis Bowling
Crete-Monee senior Alexandria Wright is the epitome of good old-fashioned hard work. That work helped her elevate her hitting and serving game on August 21.
Wright, a powerful and smart hitter, delivered the second game match winner, a picturesque floating serve ace. She finished with six kills and five service points. That helped the Warriors to outlast Illinois Lutheran, 25-18, 30-28, in a very exciting season opener in Crete.
The Warriors first year Varsity Coach William Driver was elated to have Wright help win the match over the feisty Chargers.
“Oh my goodness,” said a happy Driver. “Alexandria really showed up to play. We were experiencing some nervousness, as it was the first game of the season. Alexandria really has stepped up as an outside hitter, and we can depend on her. We have really come together as a team.”
Wright credited Coach Driver for helping her to do so well against the Chargers.
“Coach has really encouraged me,” she said. “It just feels great to be able to help us win the match. This is the first time [I’m] playing the outside hitter position.”
In the second and deciding game of the match, with Crete bragging rights on the line, down the stretch, the score was tied five times. It was an intense back and forth contest, before Wright’s floating ace serve won the match for the Warriors.
Crete-Monee senior Skylar Welcome, a middle hitter, finished with four kills and four service points.
“Alexandra had a great service point to help us win the match,” she said. “She did really well. We all played well together.”
In the first game of the match, Crete-Monee had a 22-13 lead. Charger junior Kimberly Danielewicz served an impressive five straight service points, which cut the Warriors advantage to 23-18. Along the way, the Chargers’ senior Kailey Van Es had a pair of kills.
“We played better in the second game of the match,” said Chargers Coach Ruth Junker. “We were nervous in the first game of the match. Emma (Nagle) worked hard in the back row, and her play brought us up.”
The Chargers junior Nagle, a setter, had 17 good sets.
Moments later, the Warriors Wright’s cross court smash, made it 23-18. Crete-Monee senior Mckenzie Richardson (15 good passes) served the last two service points, which included the ace serve for the game winner. A welcome kill won the 24th point for the Warriors.
Wright was quite impressed with the play of Richardson.
“Mckenzie is just an experienced player,” she said. “She’s an effective server.”
Richardson praised Wrights overall performance, “Alexandria did really well and was able to keep the ball in play. I like being on the floor.”
Look for the Warriors to do well in Southland conference play. The Chargers will be a very competitive team in the River Valley Conference.