Whitko Volleyball Team Spikes LCA
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
"We came, and it was just a little bit like, 'Oh boy, this is our first game, our first match,'" Whitko coach Doug West said.[[In-content Ad]]After falling 27-25 in the opening game, Whitko (1-0) came back to win the next three 25-11, 25-14 and 25-10 over the host LCA Lady Cougars (0-2).
"We were just a step slow, but then in games two, three and four, we served extremely well and attacked well," West said.
Throughout the first game, LCA got the majority of its points by tipping the ball right into the center of the Whitko defense, led by junior Jo Boren's six kills and senior Bethany Prinsen's four.
"Lakeland Christian got all of their balls into their middle attackers, and we were just a little bit off in defensing the middle, so they scored a lot of points," West said. "We were a little bit slow defensively, so they did a good job of capitalizing on that."
The match was LCA's second of the season, but the girls are still trying to learn the coaching style of new coach Gary Sibert.
"This is a new system for all my girls," Sibert said. "I do something that is different from a lot of coaches, so I've asked them to change a lot.
"We've really worked on our passing, but we haven't worked on our hitting," he added. "I'm asking my hitters to be a little more conservative and not make mistakes. That's what they were doing for me, so at least I know they believe in me."
After seeing LCA score so many points with lobs to the center of his defense, West made some beneficial adjustments after the first game.
"We had to alert all the girls that all of LCA's passes were going to the middle attackers," West said. "So, it was just a matter of alerting them to that, then asking for a better response in not just getting a touch on the ball, but bringing that ball up in system so we could get a set and an attack. We transitioned into our setter and got some good swings."
Senior Rachelle Kessie got most of those good swings, finishing with 15 kills, while junior Karissa Olinske had eight. Sophomore Meghan Peters set up most of the those attacks, racking up 24 assists.
On defense, senior Danielle Rose and junior Audra Day each had 17 digs.
"I was really happy with the spirit, the enthusiasm and the better defensive play all the way through the rest of the match," West said about his team after the opening game.
After success at Fulton County Christian Academy in Rochester, Sibert says he's told the girls he won't be made at them for mistakes, and doesn't do things negatively. With that approach, he hopes to get the squad to a competitive level soon.
"We'll keep improving until the middle of the season, when I think we'll be competitive with just about anybody," he said.
LCA is at Elkhart Christian Friday, while Whitko's next match is Tuesday at home against Churubusco.
WHITKO DEF. LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 25-27, 25-11, 25-14, 25-10
Kills - Rachelle Kessie (W) 15, Jo Boren (L) 10, Bethany Prinsen (L) 10, Karissa Olinske (W) 8; Digs - Audra Day (W) 17, Danielle Rose (W) 17, Lindsey Hardesty (W) 14, Olinske (W) 12; Blocks - Kessie (W) 2, Whitney Hobb (W) 2; Assists - Meghan Peters (W) 24; Aces - Rose (W) 3;
Records: Whitko 1-0, LCA 0-2
JV - Whitko def. LCA 24-25, 25-23, 25-14
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"We came, and it was just a little bit like, 'Oh boy, this is our first game, our first match,'" Whitko coach Doug West said.[[In-content Ad]]After falling 27-25 in the opening game, Whitko (1-0) came back to win the next three 25-11, 25-14 and 25-10 over the host LCA Lady Cougars (0-2).
"We were just a step slow, but then in games two, three and four, we served extremely well and attacked well," West said.
Throughout the first game, LCA got the majority of its points by tipping the ball right into the center of the Whitko defense, led by junior Jo Boren's six kills and senior Bethany Prinsen's four.
"Lakeland Christian got all of their balls into their middle attackers, and we were just a little bit off in defensing the middle, so they scored a lot of points," West said. "We were a little bit slow defensively, so they did a good job of capitalizing on that."
The match was LCA's second of the season, but the girls are still trying to learn the coaching style of new coach Gary Sibert.
"This is a new system for all my girls," Sibert said. "I do something that is different from a lot of coaches, so I've asked them to change a lot.
"We've really worked on our passing, but we haven't worked on our hitting," he added. "I'm asking my hitters to be a little more conservative and not make mistakes. That's what they were doing for me, so at least I know they believe in me."
After seeing LCA score so many points with lobs to the center of his defense, West made some beneficial adjustments after the first game.
"We had to alert all the girls that all of LCA's passes were going to the middle attackers," West said. "So, it was just a matter of alerting them to that, then asking for a better response in not just getting a touch on the ball, but bringing that ball up in system so we could get a set and an attack. We transitioned into our setter and got some good swings."
Senior Rachelle Kessie got most of those good swings, finishing with 15 kills, while junior Karissa Olinske had eight. Sophomore Meghan Peters set up most of the those attacks, racking up 24 assists.
On defense, senior Danielle Rose and junior Audra Day each had 17 digs.
"I was really happy with the spirit, the enthusiasm and the better defensive play all the way through the rest of the match," West said about his team after the opening game.
After success at Fulton County Christian Academy in Rochester, Sibert says he's told the girls he won't be made at them for mistakes, and doesn't do things negatively. With that approach, he hopes to get the squad to a competitive level soon.
"We'll keep improving until the middle of the season, when I think we'll be competitive with just about anybody," he said.
LCA is at Elkhart Christian Friday, while Whitko's next match is Tuesday at home against Churubusco.
WHITKO DEF. LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 25-27, 25-11, 25-14, 25-10
Kills - Rachelle Kessie (W) 15, Jo Boren (L) 10, Bethany Prinsen (L) 10, Karissa Olinske (W) 8; Digs - Audra Day (W) 17, Danielle Rose (W) 17, Lindsey Hardesty (W) 14, Olinske (W) 12; Blocks - Kessie (W) 2, Whitney Hobb (W) 2; Assists - Meghan Peters (W) 24; Aces - Rose (W) 3;
Records: Whitko 1-0, LCA 0-2
JV - Whitko def. LCA 24-25, 25-23, 25-14
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