ETNA – The Etna JV Lady Lions dominated the Burney Raider JVs in a 2-0 win. The seniors said thanks to their parents, and the varsity looked like they hadn’t practiced together in a week.

Early on, tied 7-7 in game-one, it looked like the Etna JVs and Burney JVs were going to be locked in a struggle. But, an ace by Katie Eiler gave Etna an 8-7 lead and started a 15-2 run by the Lady Lions. With the score 14-9, Tandy Thackeray rotated to server, and Etna rattled off nine straight points, including four Thackeray aces, to lead 23-9. A kill by Eiler made it 24-10. A service error by Burney finished out the game, with Etna winning 25-14.

Game-two began with Thackeray serving and Etna going out to a 5-0 lead. Abby Travis and Cameryn Morrill each had a kill, and Thackeray recorded another ace in the opening run. With the score 5-3, the Lady Lion JVs went on another 5-0 run, to increase the lead to 10-3, behind a pair of aces and a kill by Eiler. A kill by Lisa Jordan-Bennett made it 11-4. Coach Linda Berry made liberal use of her bench the remainder of the game. Burney did make a strong comeback bid to tie the game at 23-23, but the Lady Lion JVs held on to win the game 25-23, and the match 2-0.

While the JVs shined, the Etna varsity sleepwalked through the first two games of their match—a match full of service errors, hitting errors, and general confusion. Games one and two went Burney’s way 25-21, 25-21.

The Lady Lions began to come out of their slumber in games three and four, winning 25-22 and 25-21.

In the decisive game-five, it appeared that the Lady Lions might snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Trailing 8-5, Claire Pynes notched a kill to cut the deficit to 8-6. An Annalesia Nadig kill made it 8-7. Two aces by Sarah Loogman gave Etna the lead 9-8. A Paige Finley kill made it 10-8. Another ace by Loogman, and it was 11-8. Nadig made it 12-8 with a kill, and the Lady Lions seemed to be in control.

Burney came back with a couple of points to narrow the lead to 12-10, but a Finley kill moved Etna closer to the win at 13-10. Tiffani Towne came up with a kill to bring it to match point at 14-11.

Burney, however, rattled off four points in a row, aided by a questionable line call, to take the lead 15-14. A Pynes kill staved off defeat, tying the game at 15-15. With the help of an Etna service error, Burney scored the last two points of the match to win the game 17-15, and the match 3-2.

The Lady Lions, who many felt had the talent to make a run at a league and possibly a section title this season, will have one last chance to reach their potential when the playoffs start next Thursday. Etna will visit Mercy in round one of the NSCIF D-V playoffs.

Etna finished the regular season third in the Shasta Cascade League (7-5) and 17-17-2 overall.