By Bill Bray
FREMONT – In 2019 Lindi Cahill took over a volleyball program that hadn’t seen a winning season since 2016 when the Lady Giants finished 12-11. The program was struggling with losing seasons and disarray. Not anymore.
Coach Cahill, after finishing 14-31 her first two seasons, is 32-10 in the last two as she has rebuilt the program to be competitive with not only the other TRAC teams but with some of the top teams in the state.
The Lady Giants proved their worth Thursday night as they put on a display of volleyball that hadn’t been seen since 2010, when they conquered the Notre Dame Academy Eagles in four sets in the regular season’s finale at the “Purple Pit”. .
Ross was off to a tentative start as they dropped the first set 17-25. But that was all the good news the Eagles would have on this night. Instead of the Eagles taking flight and going on to victory, the Lady Giants grounded the birds and went on with three straight terrific sets behind the play of Brooklynn Smith, Lyndi Wolf, Jocelyn Hines, Sydney Weickert, and the rest of the Lady Giants with scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-22 to come away with the TRAC win and ending their conference record at 5-2 tying the Giants for second in the TRAC.
More impressive than that is the total of 19 wins that the Ladies have clicked off during the 2022 season. They lay just three short of tying a school record for wins that was established in 1996 and again in 2001 with 22.
An overjoyed coach Lindi Cahill was almost speechless at first but when it was all said and done what she talked about most was her lone senior, Brooklynn Smith. “The last time she gets to play here and she put on a fabulous display of volleyball to end her career here in the Pit. She just played a fantastic game.”
The team, though playing a great game tonight, is still improving and the coach and team are aware of that. “I don’t think many teams can say that as the regular season comes to a close.” Cahill said. “Our three losses were to really good teams and this is a really good team too. It is always nice to beat a good team.”
The Lady Giants now have six days to prepare for their Division I Sectional encounter as they take on Toledo Bowsher at St. Ursula High School Wednesday night at approximately 7:30pm. GO GIANTS GO!!
Brooklynn Smith (33) reacts to one of several ace serves from Lyndi Wolf (foreground). It certainly explains the smile on Wolf’s face.
Sydney Weickert (1) saves the ball from out of bounce with a terrific dig to keep the play alive.
Abby Cahill (3) with some outstanding play during the contest, is shown here with a kill attempt.
Lyndi Wolf (16) whether serving aces or being strong at the net performed to new heights during the big TRAC victory
Jocelyn Hines (6) Ms. Hustle for the Giants, tries to save a ball during the fourth set.
The Ladies are all smiles after the win over the Eagles of Notre Dame Academy Thursday night at the “Purple Pit.”
Senior Brooklynn Smith, playing in her final game at the “Purple Pit” played the game of her life.
Coach Lindi Cahill and her lone senior, Brooklynn Smith, embrace after the contest.