Green River Lady Wolves Secure Fourth Place at 4A State Volleyball Tournament

Green River Lady Wolves secure fourth-place finish at 4A State Volleyball Tournament

The Green River Lady Wolves closed their season with a hard-fought fourth-place finish at the 4A State Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, according to a report by SweetwaterNOW. The team’s performance on the court solidified a period of sustained excellence for the program, marking their second consecutive year finishing in the top four at the state level.

The Lady Wolves’ journey through the tournament weekend was defined by resilience. After an early elimination match against Thunder Basin, the team faced a high-stakes third-place showdown against Cheyenne Central. While they ultimately fell to the Lady Indians, the season concludes with a 20-14 overall record, representing the program’s third straight season achieving at least 20 victories.

A comeback victory keeps the season alive

Green River’s Saturday began with a tense five-set battle against Thunder Basin. The Lady Wolves opened the elimination match with a commanding 25-16 first set, led by early scoring from Nicole Wilson, Athena Clement, Reghan Obray, and Annistyn Nielsen. However, the momentum shifted as Thunder Basin took the second set 25-20 and the third set 25-21, placing Green River on the brink of elimination.

Facing a must-win fourth set, the Lady Wolves responded with a narrow 26-24 victory. The set remained tightly contested, with the score tied at 24-24 after a Thunder Basin kill prevented Green River from closing it out on set point. A subsequent error by Thunder Basin gave the Lady Wolves a 25-24 lead, which Nicole Wilson converted into the match-winning point with a kill off an assist from Payton Shantz.

Green River entered the deciding fifth set with renewed energy, jumping to an immediate 4-0 lead behind kills from Heward and Wilson, as well as an ace from Obray. The Lady Wolves maintained dominance throughout the frame, extending their lead to 9-0 before Athena Clement added two consecutive aces. Green River closed the set 15-9 to secure the match win.

The final battle against Cheyenne Central

The victory propelled Green River into the third-place match against Cheyenne Central, but the Lady Indians established control early. Despite efforts from Wilson, Nielsen, Obray, and Phillips to keep the score close, Cheyenne Central took the opening set 25-20 and the second set 25-16.

Green River showed a final burst of competitive spirit in the third set, where they appeared to have regained their footing. Wilson recorded four kills during the first seven points of the set, helping Green River build an 8-1 lead. The Lady Wolves pushed the advantage to 16-5 behind a block by Murray, an ace from Payton Shantz, and further scoring from Clement and Obray. Obray even delivered back-to-back aces to bring the set to a 22-10 advantage.

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Despite the convincing 25-10 third-set win by Green River, Cheyenne Central regained momentum in the fourth set. After falling behind 18-10, the Lady Wolves fought to chip away at the deficit, but the match ended in a 25-21 victory for Cheyenne Central, securing them third place.

The Lady Wolves’ ability to consistently reach the state semifinals highlights a period of stability for the program. This season’s 20-14 finish serves as a benchmark for a team that has demonstrated the ability to navigate the pressures of elimination-style tournament play.