Post by Todd B on Jan 23, 2007 14:09:37 GMT -5
Article published Jan 23, 2007
Blue Streaks battle-tested
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/SPORTS/101230028
IDA - For Ida's volleyball team, the cliche really is true.
The Blue Streaks are much better than their record.
Ida took a modest 7-6-4 mark into its Lenawee County Athletic Association battle with Erie Mason Monday night.
Three of those losses came last week when the Blue Streaks faced Huron League powers St. Mary Catholic Central and Airport, and state-ranked Lenawee Christian.
The battle-tested Streaks got better as the night wore on Monday and swept a good Mason team 33-31, 25-18, 25-16.
The key to the match was the opening game. Mason battled back from a 24-19 deficit with the help of three Brooke Hearn kills. But after taking a 28-27 lead, the Eagles served three straight balls into the net. Ida finally pulled out the marathon, taking a 32-31 lead on Kari Honomichl's kill and clinching the game when Mason missed a block on a free ball.
"That hurts," said Eagles coach Kim Rector. "We missed 11 serves tonight, and that's not varsity material.
"We came here to play hard from the beginning. We battled with them. We were hitting with them, and then we stopped hitting. They outserved us, too."
Ida has the big guns up front but got some help in the back row from sophomore Brittany Jenkins. The Blue Streaks trailed 9-8 in the third game when they took control with 10 straight points, nine of them off Jenkins' serves.
"Brittany played as good a game as she has all year. She's quite a fireplug out there," said Blue Streaks coach Eric Flotow.
"Sam Songalewski was outstanding at the net. And I thought we played some pretty decent defense as the match went on."
Jenkins finished with 24 service points and 4 aces. Songalewski had 5 blocks and also served up 4 aces. Ashley Begeman dished out 33 assists. She took over the setting duties this year as a sophomore.
"Ashley came in fully loaded as a freshman," Flotow said. "She probably could have been a setter for us last year if we hadn't already had Rachel McCleery. She's definitely a talented player."
"It got a little rugged out there," said Honomichl. "I think I only had two good hits all night."
But the sophomore actually matched teammate Kayla Spotts with 17 kills. With Spotts and Honomichl hitting well from the outside and Songalewski playing like a wall in the middle, the Blue Streaks have one of the most potent attacks in the Region.
Hearn led Mason with 13 kills, Stracey Strobel had 23 digs and Kodie Paxton 12 digs.
"Kodie was all over the court," Rector said. "She's almost like a contortionist out there, battling to never let the ball drop."
The coach was pleased with her team overall but disappointed that the Eagles had 11 service errors and only 2 aces.
"It's nerves, it's losing focus, it's the technique, it's all those things they need to do when they get tired," she said. "We practice those things."
Flotow thought the first game was huge.
"We had a nice lead on them, and they came back," he said. "Mason is always scrappy. They play great defense. That game was pivotal. Our girls had enough resolve to pull it out."
Mason is 3-2 in the LCAA and 8-11-4 overall. Ida improved to 3-1 and 8-6-4.
Flotow likes his team's chances in the LCAA race.
"We've got the hitters. If we can get solid passing from the back row, we're going to be awesome," he said. "If you can pass, you can pound."
Ida also won the JV match 15-25, 25-19, 15-8. Erin Mayes and Molly Daniels played well for the Blue Streak freshman team in a 25-8, 25-15 win.
Blue Streaks battle-tested
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/SPORTS/101230028
IDA - For Ida's volleyball team, the cliche really is true.
The Blue Streaks are much better than their record.
Ida took a modest 7-6-4 mark into its Lenawee County Athletic Association battle with Erie Mason Monday night.
Three of those losses came last week when the Blue Streaks faced Huron League powers St. Mary Catholic Central and Airport, and state-ranked Lenawee Christian.
The battle-tested Streaks got better as the night wore on Monday and swept a good Mason team 33-31, 25-18, 25-16.
The key to the match was the opening game. Mason battled back from a 24-19 deficit with the help of three Brooke Hearn kills. But after taking a 28-27 lead, the Eagles served three straight balls into the net. Ida finally pulled out the marathon, taking a 32-31 lead on Kari Honomichl's kill and clinching the game when Mason missed a block on a free ball.
"That hurts," said Eagles coach Kim Rector. "We missed 11 serves tonight, and that's not varsity material.
"We came here to play hard from the beginning. We battled with them. We were hitting with them, and then we stopped hitting. They outserved us, too."
Ida has the big guns up front but got some help in the back row from sophomore Brittany Jenkins. The Blue Streaks trailed 9-8 in the third game when they took control with 10 straight points, nine of them off Jenkins' serves.
"Brittany played as good a game as she has all year. She's quite a fireplug out there," said Blue Streaks coach Eric Flotow.
"Sam Songalewski was outstanding at the net. And I thought we played some pretty decent defense as the match went on."
Jenkins finished with 24 service points and 4 aces. Songalewski had 5 blocks and also served up 4 aces. Ashley Begeman dished out 33 assists. She took over the setting duties this year as a sophomore.
"Ashley came in fully loaded as a freshman," Flotow said. "She probably could have been a setter for us last year if we hadn't already had Rachel McCleery. She's definitely a talented player."
"It got a little rugged out there," said Honomichl. "I think I only had two good hits all night."
But the sophomore actually matched teammate Kayla Spotts with 17 kills. With Spotts and Honomichl hitting well from the outside and Songalewski playing like a wall in the middle, the Blue Streaks have one of the most potent attacks in the Region.
Hearn led Mason with 13 kills, Stracey Strobel had 23 digs and Kodie Paxton 12 digs.
"Kodie was all over the court," Rector said. "She's almost like a contortionist out there, battling to never let the ball drop."
The coach was pleased with her team overall but disappointed that the Eagles had 11 service errors and only 2 aces.
"It's nerves, it's losing focus, it's the technique, it's all those things they need to do when they get tired," she said. "We practice those things."
Flotow thought the first game was huge.
"We had a nice lead on them, and they came back," he said. "Mason is always scrappy. They play great defense. That game was pivotal. Our girls had enough resolve to pull it out."
Mason is 3-2 in the LCAA and 8-11-4 overall. Ida improved to 3-1 and 8-6-4.
Flotow likes his team's chances in the LCAA race.
"We've got the hitters. If we can get solid passing from the back row, we're going to be awesome," he said. "If you can pass, you can pound."
Ida also won the JV match 15-25, 25-19, 15-8. Erin Mayes and Molly Daniels played well for the Blue Streak freshman team in a 25-8, 25-15 win.