GREENFIELD — It was a meeting of former teammates in the McClain High School gymnasium Thursday as the Washington Lady Blue Lion volleyball team, coached by Ashley DeAtley, faced off against the Lady Tigers, coached by Taylor Alsop.
McClain came away with the win in straight sets.
Scores of the sets were: 25-23, 25-18 and 25-18.
“Taylor had her girls really prepared for our attacks,” Washington head coach Ashley DeAtley said. “They chased down several balls. They knew when to free ball exactly at the right time to catch our girls off of our toes.
“We just weren’t ready tonight,” DeAtley said. “We didn’t come mentally focused and prepared. I think that’s what we struggled with; just getting together and meshing well like we did against Jackson.”
“I just started out telling them, ‘as long as you are where the ball is and you’re underneath it, you’ll be able to pass it up,’” Alsop said. “That’s what I started with. I wanted all my girls to be in the right place at the right time and just moving their feet.
“Our big key was, moving our feet, picking up everything,” Alsop said. “They weren’t letting the ball hit the floor. They never gave up on the ball. I think those were our big keys to winning.”
Alsop spoke about coaching against her former Lady Lion volleyball teammate.
“It wasn’t awkward,” Alsop said. “It wasn’t bad. It was more bittersweet for me, because I used to help coach there with them. It was nice for us to get the win. They have a really good team and a good program, so, it was nice to (get the win) and show the girls that they are capable to doing these things.”
McClain improves to 2-3 in the Frontier Athletic Conference.
Statistically for Washington: kills, Hannah Haithcock, 11 of 32; Faith Kobel, 8 of 27; Rayana Burns, 6 of 16.
Blocks: Kobel, 2 solo; Trinity Ragland, 1 solo.
Digs: Delaney Greer, 14; Tabby Woods, 12.
Serving: Maddie Jenkins, 3 aces; Greer, 2 aces.
Assists: Halli Wall, 26.
Washington (now 2-2 in the FAC, 4-6 overall) will play at Miami Trace Tuesday with the j-v match starting at 5 p.m.
Lady Lions win j-v match at McClain
The Washington Lady Blue Lion j-v volleyball team posted a 2-0 win over the Lady Tigers Thursday.
Scores of the sets were: 25-20 and 25-23.
The Lady Lions are now 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Frontier Athletic Conference.
Statistically for Washington, in serving, Rachel Palmer was 10 of 10 with one ace; Emily Semler was 6 of 8 with two aces and Emma Funari was 5 of 5 with two aces.
Attacks: Brittney Wilson, 9 of 10, four kills; Mackenzie Truex, 10 of 11, two kills; Amya Haithcock, 5 of 8.
Passing: Semler, 15 of 17; Mallory Hicks, 12 of 16; Wilson, 18 of 18.
Setting: Funari, 31 of 34, seven assists.
