Twitter
Facebook
Playing at home did not seem to be the advantage for the Ramstein Royals volleyball team. The packed Southside Fitness Center gym was on the side of the Royals’ opponent: the SHAPE Spartans.
However, in a hard fought five-set game, the Royals got the last word against the Spartans during the Department of Defense Dependents Schools’ Division I Volleyball championships held Nov. 5 on Ramstein.
With each set going back and forth, the final set and the game was decided by Ramstein junior Kelsey Freeman when she spiked the ball unreturned by anyone on SHAPE’s side of the net.
Both teams scrapped in each set virtually touching the ball every time it went over the net.
“I try to touch every ball that comes my way,” said Ramstein sophomore Sade Upshaw. “I always make sure that I am being aggressive.”
Aggressive was the name of the game in the Nov. 5 matchup. Upshaw had 47 digs and seven aces while sophomore Ashley Seiler led the Spartans with 17 kills (unreturned attacks), seven blocks and four aces.
With every hit the Spartans dished, there were two Royals waiting to block on the other side of the net. Royals junior Sarah Szybist had six blocks.
“We proved to ourselves that we had what it takes to win it all,” Szybist said.
“We are a very young team we have pushed through thick and thin,” said Erin Markus, Royals coach. “We had a lot going against us and we overcame hurdles all season.”
