2A SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Lynx go the distance twice to claim playoff crown

Neither consecutive five-game matches nor a previously-undefeated opponent were enough to stop Lincoln County from a region title.

The second-seeded Lynx outlasted The Meadows on Saturday night at Desert Oasis, 25-22, 19-25, 25-15, 16-25, 15-12, to claim the 2A Southern League championship and earn the league’s top seed to next week’s state tournament at Silverado.

Lincoln County survived a scare from third-seeded White Pine in a semifinal match that went the distance before the Lynx pulled out the win, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-10, then turned around only minutes later to play The Meadows, which was undefeated in league play.

Lynx coach Ken Thornock credited his team’s strong conditioning for allowing it to put together strong back-to-back matches.

“We’re in phenomenal shape,” Thornock said. “We work hard every day. It says something about their courage, about their tenacity.”

Lincoln County middle blocker Marissa Smerek said the mental challenge of the two five-game matches was more difficult than the physical part.

“I think we’re in pretty good shape, so it wasn’t so hard,” Smerek said.

The Meadows still advances to the state playoffs, though, to play a semifinal match against the Northern Region champion. The Mustangs earned the berth by defeating fourth-seeded Calvary Chapel, 25-16, 25-20, 25-20, in Saturday’s semifinals.

The 6-foot Smerek posted 13 kills to lead the Lynx and her presence at the net changed a number of the Mustangs’ swings. Kori Gloeckner totaled 14 assists for Lincoln County and Kelbee Cheeney recorded 11 assists, as both setters consistently gave Lynx hitters good opportunities.

Smerek said her team played more tenaciously against The Meadows than it had in previous matches.

“We just didn’t give up this time,” Smerek said. “We’ve kind of had a problem with that mentally. This time, we didn’t. We just kept going through it.”

The Lynx trailed 11-10 in the deciding game, but two kills by Michelle Wheatley and a block by Smerek provided Lincoln County with the final push. Thornock said his team didn’t have any fear of playing the undefeated Mustangs.

“The regular season doesn’t mean that much,” Thornock said. “It means seeding for this.”

Laura Walsh totaled 14 kills, and Vanessa Hall recorded 33 assists for The Meadows.