WEST FORK -- The Lincoln girls felt confident going into Thursday's regular season finale at West Fork, but the home team had other ideas handing the Lady Wolves a 3-1 loss.
Lincoln owned a 3A-1 Conference win over West Fork (20-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-22) on Sept. 18. Thursday's match became a role reversal with the Lady Tigers winning 3-of-4 sets.
Lincoln led 10-8 early and later at 15-13 in the first set, but West Fork pulled out of a 17-17 tie with an 8-3 run to win game-one, 25-20.
West Fork senior outside hitter Cambree Cruikshank, who stands 6-0, and sophomore middle hitter, 5-10, Lilly Hauser gave the Lady Wolves problems on the front line. The Lady Lions jumped ahead 18-9 in the second set and although Lincoln pulled within 20-15 using a 6-2 run, West Fork put game-two away, 25-16.
Facing elimination, Lincoln battled back to claim a 25-21 win in game-three. Kinley Webb's ace and Jessica Goldman's block-kill boosted the Lady Wolves out to a 4-1 lead. Cruikshank's kill followed by an ace drew the Lady Tigers even at 6-6. The set stayed close after that. Tanner Robb's block led to a Lincoln point. She added a tip-kill on the next volley for an 18-17 Lincoln lead. West Fork appeared vulnerable in the third set, not looking as sharp as the previous two games and Lincoln capitalized. Miscues by the Lady Lions down the stretch allowed Lincoln to coast to a 25-21 victory to stay alive in the match.
Abby Goldman's ace kept Lincoln within 14-10 in the fourth set, but West Fork steadily pulled away to take the game, 25-15, and win the match.
School^Conf.^Overall
Paris^14-0^27-2-1^
Charleston^12-2^21-7-3^
Booneville^8-6^13-14-3
Mansfield^8-6^14-9-1
Waldron^8-6^9-12-2
Elkins^4-10^8-13-0
Lincoln^1-13^1-14-0
West Fork^1-13^2-18-0
Conference Tournament
Monday at Waldron
No. 5 Waldron vs. No. 7 Lincoln
No. 6 Elkins vs. No. 8 West Fork
Sports on 10/17/2018