The varsity volleyball team was primed and ready to take on the Lapeer East Eagles Feb. 2 in the Ian Smith Gymnasium.
The Ladycats had had four days of tough practice to prepare for the undefeated Eagles.
‘The girls put a lot of hard work and sweat into practice, they wanted to knock the Eagles off their perch,? said Coach Kristi McDevitt.
The perch being tops in the FML for the past two years and their 31 consecutive wins in the league. The team focused on two things before the game ? avenging their close five-game loss to East the first game of the season and snapping that winning streak.
The Ladycats came out fired up and downed the Eagles 25-23. Oxford had the second game in their clutches 23-17, until East had a late rally and pulled off seven straight points to win the game 25-23.
‘We had them right where we wanted them, but got thrown off our game by some mental errors on our part,? Coach McDevitt said.
The Ladycats came back and won the third game 25-21, but lost a nail-biter in the fourth game 30-32. Oxford found themselves in a familiar situation, the fifth and final game on the series to determine the outcome.
Oxford had not been able to overcome their fifth game phobia this season losing games to East, Lapeer West, and Brandon earlier this season. The Ladycats didn’t leave too much to fret about, beating the Eagles 15-5 in the 5th.
‘They have never come out and played like that,? McDevitt said. ‘It just finally clicked.?
The Ladycats will be using the game as a starting off point for the second half of the season.
‘We are capable of so much, and those teams that got the better of us the first time around had better watch out.?
Senior captain Mykala Salquist stepped up huge for her team, tallying 14 blocks and 14 kills. Junior Kaitlin DuCharme had a breakout night with 15 kills, and senior captain Shana Jones had 10 kills.
Oxford improves to 5-3 in the league and 17-8-4 overall.