GREEN RIVER — The Green River Lady Wolves overcame a late setback in the opening set and responded by winning three straight sets Thursday night, defeating Jackson 3-1 in a 4A Southwest Conference volleyball match.
Green River won 25-27, 25-13, 25-22 and 25-14 to improve to 11-9 overall and 2-0 in conference play. The Lady Wolves are the lone team atop the 4A Southwest Conference standings after Evanston swept Star Valley earlier this week, leaving both teams at 1-1 in conference play. Jackson is 0-2 in the conference.
The Lady Wolves appeared poised to take the opening set after building a lead, but Jackson rallied late. The teams battled through ties at 17-17, 19-19, 20-20 and 21-21 before trading points down the stretch.
Vivian Murray put Green River ahead 23-22 with a kill, and Reghan Obray followed with another kill for a 24-23 advantage. Nicole Wilson then gave the Lady Wolves a 25-24 lead, but Jackson answered with three straight points to take the opening set 27-25.
Green River responded immediately in the second set. The Lady Wolves jumped ahead 4-0 and extended the lead to 9-4. Jackson pulled within 9-7, but Green River continued to build its advantage, moving ahead 16-10. Elexes Heward recorded a block for Green River’s 16th point, and Wilson added a kill for a 17-12 lead.
Green River then pulled away, taking a 20-13 lead before Obray recorded a kill to make it 22-13. Obray and Athena Clement combined on a block for a 24-13 advantage before Wilson closed the set with an ace, tying the match at 1-1 with a 25-13 win.
The third set was closely contested from the beginning, with neither team able to create much separation. Green River trailed 13-11 and later 14-12 before tying the set at 14-14. The teams continued trading points, reaching ties at 15-15, 17-17, 18-18 and 19-19. After Jackson took a 21-19 lead, Green River answered to tie the set at 21-21.
Murray then delivered a kill to tie the set again at 22-22 after Jackson briefly moved ahead. Green River took a 23-22 lead and extended it to 24-22 on another Murray attack. A Jackson error gave the Lady Wolves the final point, sending Green River into the fourth set with a 2-1 lead.
Green River controlled the fourth set from the start, opening with a 4-0 lead and extending it to 13-5 before Jackson called a timeout. Green River continued to hold the advantage, moving ahead 18-9.
Clement then produced one of the set’s notable plays at the net, sending the ball back into the middle of the Jackson defense for a Green River point to make it 19-9. Jackson called another timeout, but the Lady Wolves continued to pull away.
Murray added a block to put Green River ahead 24-14, and she finished the set on the next point as the Lady Wolves completed the 3-1 victory with a 25-14 fourth-set win.
Green River will travel to Star Valley on Saturday for another 4A Southwest Conference matchup, with varsity scheduled for noon.
