BIG PINEY – The conference volleyball game pitting the Big Piney High School Lady Punchers against the Kemmerer Lady Rangers turned into a cliffhanger at the Puncher Gym on Thursday, Oct. 5.

The Lady Punchers won the first two sets. Kemmerer rallied to take the third set and fought to stay in the game in a high-stakes fourth set.

The Lady Rangers managed to tie the fourth set at 21 points, threatening to overtake Big Piney and force the game into a fifth set.

Kemmerer served the ball into the net and the Lady Punchers regained the initiative, 22-21.

Big Piney sophomores Kodee Greene and Lizzy Brandt kept the ball alive with a pair of bumps, resulting in point 23 for the Lady Punchers.

Greene slammed over a powerful kill – assisted by freshman Kaity Shreve – widening Big Piney’s lead, 24-21.

Players on the sideline, members of the BPHS cheerleading team and fans in the stands held up their index fingers for game point. Silence fell over the gym.

Brandt stepped up to the line and delivered a perfect serve into Lady Ranger territory. Kemmerer attempted to return the ball, sending it out of bounds.

The gym erupted as the Lady Punchers scored game point, 25-21, to defeat Kemmerer, 3-1.

“Kemmerer was a great win for us and I’m proud of this team,” said Head Coach Kinsy Voss. “We knew Kemmerer is an offensive team and played a really good defensive game. Lizzy is one of the top five liberos in the state for all classes and led us in digs with 32. Three of our top offensive hitters – Micah Strong, Kodee Greene and Addison Losik – came away with six kills each. Kaity gave us 20 assists and Kodee got us five aces. We played to win against Kemmerer and we did!”

Down to the wire

The Lady Punchers kicked off the first set with an 8-point run, including a pair of aces by freshman Jada Banks, kills from Greene and Strong and a block by Greene.

Kemmerer snuck up and overtook Big Piney at 13 points. Losik slammed over a kill and Brandt aced two serves, placing the Lady Punchers ahead, 16-15.

Banks spiked a kill into Lady Ranger territory. Greene made a block and Brandt aced a pair of serves. Greene reached up for two blocks, the second resulting in game point, 25-20.

Pulling out all the stops in the second set, Big Piney controlled the scoreboard from the first point. Greene served up 2 points. Kills by Losik and Strong maintained the initiative for the Lady Punchers.

Kemmerer attempted to close the gap before Greene responded with a block. Junior Charleigh Smith aced her serve. Banks and Strong each powered over a kill with Shreve setting over a point.

Kemmerer sent their serve out of bounds and Big Piney scored game point, 25-16.

The Lady Rangers rebounded in the third set and held onto the lead through game point, 25-18.

Big Piney roared back in the fourth set, with Greene, Losik and Strong each scoring early points. Smith made a dig for a point. Losik blocked the ball and sophomore Brylie Bailey powered over a kill.

Kemmerer edged up and took the lead at 15 points. A kill from Greene tied the set, 15-15.

The Lady Rangers scored a point before tangling with the net returning a hit by Greene. Kemmerer then managed to score 3 points until it served the ball into the net.

Strong and Losik closed the gap with a kill apiece, resulting in a 19-19 deadlock.

The Lady Rangers managed to tie the set again at 20 points. Strong set the ball over and the scoreboard favored Big Piney, 21-20.

Kemmerer made a final stand and matched Big Piney at 21 points.

Digging deep, the Lady Punchers went on a 4-point run culminating in game point, 25-21.

The Lady Punchers travel to play conference rivals Wyoming Indian High School and St. Stephens on Oct. 13-14.