Girls Volleyball: Thunderbolts Tame Lions

The Cranston East girls volleyball team has improved throughout the year. However, heading into Thursday night's game against Lincoln, they had not won a game. Despite a slow start, the Bolts rebounded to win three consecutive games, winning the match 3-1.

In the first game, it looked like the winless season would continue. The Thunderbolts looked lifeless and their performance showed it. After taking a 3-1 lead, they were outscored 16-4 over the next 20 points. Eventually, Lincoln won the game 25-13.

"In the first game we came out really flat," East's coach, Ron Lee, said.

The final three games proved to be much more competitive than the first. Lincoln took an early 6-4 lead in the second game. However, the Bolkts responded and took a 13-10 lead.

It went back and forth throughout the middle of the second game, and late in the game the Lions held a slim 19-18 lead. The Thunderbolts ended the game on a 7-0 run and senior Keris Symonds' kill gave them the 25-19 win.

Cranston East led throughout the third game, but the lead never felt safe. Their largest lead in the game was four points, as the Lions kept roaring back into the match. They refused to go down without a fight. However, Symonds notched another game-ending kill, giving the Bolts a 25-21 victory in game three.

The Thunderbolts would have to fight through some adversity in the fourth game. They trailed 12-9 and it looked as if the match was slipping away. They responded with a 10-2 run, to propel themselves into a 19-14 lead, and never looked back. A serve into the net would doom the Lions, as the Bolts won the fourth game 25-21 on the unforced error and took the match 3-1.

East sophomore Alexis McCarten led the team with nine kills and co-captain Gianna Delgado notched seven kills. Bolts senior Jincy Phann had 26 assists and 7 digs.

"The girls are all really excited and I am happy they played well enough to win the match," Lee said, "Our front row improves every game."