Needing just one more point to advance in the postseason, a Lone Tree missed serve brought English Valleys within 25-24 in the fourth set. 

But Riley Krueger wouldn’t let them get any closer. 

Her cross-court kill put an exclamation point on Lone Tree’s first-round playoff win, sending the Lady Lions to the regional quarterfinals. 

After English Valleys dominated the second set 25-15 to even the match at one set apiece, the final two sets went back and forth with Lone Tree coming out on top 25-23 and 26-24. 

“We played more relaxed and with more focus,” Lone Tree coach Lora Sieverding said about the third set. “Strategically we were placing our attacks in better places. EV battled well but we moved them just enough to have them scrambling and got them to commit some key errors to give us the win.”

The Lady Lions had five aces in the third set. Serving was also key in the first set, which Lone Tree took 25-11 with nine aces. 

“Ella (Buser) got rid of her serving monkey that was on her back the last couple matches and was our strongest server of the night serving 16 for 20 with seven aces,” Sieverding said. “Every server had at least one ace to their name tonight."

Buser  led the Lady Lions with 24 assists and added 12 digs. Krueger had a team-high 11 kills and 16 digs, while Kylie Patterson finished with nine. 

“Riley Krueger and Kylie Patterson were our strong hitters tonight,” Sieverding said. “Ellen (Carow) had some key blocks that fired up our crowd.”

Carow had five kills and two blocks. Libero Alyssa Knock had 14 digs.  Krueger, Carow and Patterson each had three aces, and Alivia Hemsted finished with two. 

English Valleys ends the season at 5-22. Lone Tree (7-22) advances to face No. 1 Burlington Notre Dame (32-8) in the regional quarterfinals.