By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin volleyball gets very few opportunities to square off against any of its fellow Topeka schools.
And when the Lions got that chance Thursday night they took full advantage, sweeping Topeka West and Highland Park at West.
Cair Paravel Latin volleyball celebrates its 33-31 first-set victory over Topeka West, the start of a sweep over West and Highland Park Thursday night at West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Lions, now 3-3 on the season, opened their night with a 33-31, 25-23 win over triangular host Topeka West before completing the sweep with a 25-9, 25-17 win over Highland Park.
Cair Paravel coach Craig Congdon said the Lions get fired up for the rare chance to face a city rival.
"This is the only night on the season we do,'' Congdon said. "Our league is all small schools that are all 35 (minutes) to an hour around Topeka, so this is the only time all season we get to play any of the city teams. We've been in this T-West tri and quad for years and it's fun, so we love getting to play T-West and Hi Park.
"It's a chance to stay in town to have fans and friends who usually don't get to travel. It's really neat.''
Cair Paravel junior standout London Backman agreed.
"Both excitement and nerves come in, but I think excitement always overrules it whenever we play,'' Backman said. "Honestly, it was really amazing. I could not have done it without any of the other girls. They really have the energy and they bring it every single day.
"We have all our seniors that are always doing something to encourage one another and we also couldn't have done it without God. He always gives us the strength to push through each and every set, especially the one that we went to like 33.''
Cair Paravel volleyball celebrates a service ace during Thursday's Topeka West triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The first set of the CPLS-West match was a marathon, with numerous ties and lead changes. Both the Lions and Chargers had multiple match points before Cair Paravel scored the final three points to take the 33-31 win.
Cair Paravel jumped out to 15-5 and 19-9 leads in the second set but Topeka West battled back to take 20-19 and 21-20 leads before the Lions rallied to close out the match with a 25-23 victory.
"That Topeka West match was one of the craziest I've ever coached,'' Congdon said. "For the first set to go 33-31 and for it to be tight for both teams to have multiple game-point chances and the other team to just fight back that was incredible.
"Then in the second set we were dominating them and then the middle of the game they dominated us and they were up, 21-20. I thought there's no way our girls come back from being so far up and then down, but it shows the heart and courage our girls have.''
The Lions dominated their first set against Highland Park, jumping out to a 21-8 and allowing just one point the rest of the set on the way to the 16-point win.
Highland Park played much better in the second set, including an 11-11 tie, but the Lions took control late for the eight-point victory.
Topeka West senior Sydney VanDyke (5) is congratulated by junior teammate Mya Miller after delivering a kill in Thursday's Topek West triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West bounced back to go 1-1 on the night, taking a 25-23, 25-10 victory over the Scots.
Highland Park senior Sincere Cooper serves the ball during Thursday's Topeka West volleyball triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Highland Park took the first set down to the wire before a service error ended the set.
The second set was all West, with the Chargers scoring the first seven points and going up 21-5 and 23-6 on the way to the 15-point victory.
Match results
Cair Paravel def. Topeka West, 33-31, 25-23; Cair Paravel def. Highland Park, 25-9, 25-17; Topeka West def. Highland Park, 25-23, 25-10.
