Roadrunners Run Circles Around Cougars

The Roadrunners got off to a hot start in each of its three sets against Clackamas last week, displaying their dominance as the Roadrunners race toward the Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs. 

The Roadrunners defeated Clackamas 3-0; set scores were 25-17, 25-12, and 25-21. They extended their win streak to 17 games and improved to 25-2 on the season and 15-0 in NWAC South Region play.

“We just know that we need to make sure we take care of the little details, otherwise even teams that maybe don’t bring in power against us, can get some scores like that. We just have to make sure that we are paying attention to every detail,” said Head Coach Jayme Frazier when asked about improving and finding success heading into the playoffs.

To start the game the teams traded points back and forth before the Roadrunners went on a 5-0 run in a 90-second span, to take a 10-6 lead. From then on, LBCC was in control, and while Clackamas put up a fight, they missed a few digs or didn’t make proper contact that ended up costing them the possibility to tie late in the set. LBCC took the set in 20 minutes, 25-17. 

Clackamas’ Matumaivai Taale’s had an impressive dig in the opening minutes of the second set, but Shalyn Gray set up Sydnie Johnson to tap it over the net, giving the Roadrunners a quick 8-2 lead. The Roadrunners plowed through the Cougars in the second set, finishing off with their largest lead of the set and taking it with a score of 25-12. 

When asked about what the key to their success this season, Frazier responded: 

“The team chemistry; they love to have fun, they work hard on and off the court. They just really support each other and I think that goes a long way, and they’re a very athletic group. I think that combination is the key.”

On the sixth rally of the third and final set, the ball was in play for half a minute, including 13 sets, six spikes, and one dig between the teams. The last set went back and forth between the teams, with the game being tied seven times before the Roadrunners started to pull away and took a 17-11 lead. 

The Cougars fought back forcing the Roadrunners to make mistakes which contributed to a 6-1 run by Clackamas, bringing the score to 23-21 and reducing LB’s lead to just two points. Shalyn Gray finished the set with the match-winning spike, and Clackamas Samantha Tardiff was unable to dig the ball. 
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