Strong serving propels Pemayetv Emahakv volleyball teams • The Seminole Tribune

BRIGHTON — For spectators who watched the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School’s volleyball doubleheader Sept. 19, a common theme was evident throughout the afternoon with the junior varsity and varsity squads.
Both teams have outstanding servers.

It’s not just a matter of getting the ball over the net for these Seminoles; it’s also about placement, velocity and power.

Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School’s Nena Youngblood stretches to make a service return during the Seminoles’ win in a varsity match against West Glades Middle School on Sept. 19 in Brighton. (Photo Kevin Johnson)

PECS’ JV starting lineup against West Glades consisted of Alyssa Madrigal, Taryn Osceola, Neela Jones, Summer Gopher, Miley Jimmie and Kashrya Urbina.

The Seminoles fell behind 6-1, but CeCeThomas came off the bench and provided a spark with four aces during a 10-0 run on her serve. PECS never trailed again.

Urbina and Madrigal also delivered aces and a couple of kills came from Gopher in the 25-12 win.

Carlee Osceola controls the ball for PECS during its varsity match against West Glades Middle School. (Photo Kevin Johnson)

The strong serving continued in game two thanks to Osceola, who cranked out nine service points to start the game as PECS built a 9-0 lead.

Later, it was Jimmie who blasted a bunch of aces which were too hot for West Glades to handle. Madrigal stamped an exclamation point on the victory with an ace on match point.

The varsity team picked up where the JV left off. Lexi Thomas started the varsity match with six consecutive service points, most of which were aces.

After West Glades battled back to trim the deficit to 7-5, PECS won a long stretch of points behind the serves of Nena Youngblood. Truly Osceola blasted a kill toward the end of the 25-11 win.

With her PECS teammates Preslynn Baker (2) and Saniya Rodriguez (8) next to her, Lexi Thomas makes a return from the back row during the varsity match. (Photo Kevin Johnson)

In game two, West Glades won the first two points but their lead was short lived as Thomas responded with four straight aces. Preslynn Baker also delivered plenty of quality serves as PECS’ serving kept West Glades bottled up all match.

When West Glades pulled to within three points late in the match, it was a kill by Truly Osceola on a set by Thomas that squashed the visitors’ momentum. PECS won the game, 25-20.

Taryn Osceola gets ready to set the ball during PECS’ junior varsity game against West Glades. Ready to help out is Alyssa Madrigal (15). (Photo Kevin Johnson)

As good as PECS’ serving was against West Glades, it wasn’t as sharp against Osceola Middle in a match earlier in the week. The loss to Osceola Middle cost the Seminoles a chance at an undefeated season and a banner with their names that would have been hung in the gym.

“We were trying to get another banner for undefeated, but that’s ok. We can win the tournament at the end of the season,” said PECS coach Pam Matthews, whose team improved to 4-1 at the halfway mark.

Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School’s Kashyra Urbina deliver serves during the junior varsity volleyball team’s win against West Glades junior varsity Sept. 19 in Brighton. (Photo Kevin Johnson)

Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School’s Summer Gopher deliver serves during the junior varsity volleyball team’s win against West Glades junior varsity Sept. 19 in Brighton. (Photo Kevin Johnson)

2019 Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School volleyball

Coach: Pam Matthews
Asst. coach: Mary Huff
Varsity
1 Lexi Thomas
2 Preslynn Baker
3 Truly Osceola
5 Jana Johnson
8 Saniya Rodriguez
12 Carlee Osceola
13 Tianni Anderson
14 Nena Youngblood

Junior Varsity
4 Summer Gopher
7 Miley Jimmie
10 Chaka Smith
11 CeCe Thomas
15 Alyssa Madrigal
16 Taryn Osceola
17 Neela Jones
18 Kashyra Urbina