BOURBON - Communication. The Triton Lady Trojans volleyball team had it and the Tippecanoe Valley Lady Vikings didn't Tuesday in Bourbon.
In a four-game loss (25-13, 20-25, 25-10, 25-21) Valley (2-2) committed 45 unforced errors, leaving second-year coach Emily Finken befuddled."Communication's lacking and I stressed that a lot before the season, and even last year," she said. "There's no communication and it shows.
"It was hitting error after hitting error," she added. "We had a player with 11 hitting errors, and she's one of our biggest hitters."
Valley was led by senior Kaley Shewman's eight kills and nine aces.
After losing the second game 25-20, Triton (3-3) came back strong, not trailing in either of the last two games.
"A lot of it is our experience," third-year Trojans coach Terrin Meister said. "I have great senior leadership this year. They're all experienced on the varsity, with many of them playing since they were sophomores."
Among those seniors, Lindsay Ganshorn had 27 assists, Hannah Downing finished with 20 digs, Shelby Heinman posted eight kills and Aundrea Sellers added another six kills.
"Everybody clicks well and that's what's so good about our team," Meister said. "We have great chemistry and everybody works well in their position."
Meister also has a junior she can lean on in Megan Howdeshell, who had a match-high 22 kills.
"When her timing's on and everything else is working, she can really connect with that ball," Meister said. "She's is obviously our power hitter."
Finken also knows who her power hitters are, but it's a matter of getting those hitters opportunities with good ball movement.
"It's fixable and it's something that should have been taken care of a long time ago," Finken said. "I don't want to say it's a lack of desire, but I need something to motivate these girls. I have to push them somehow."
The Lady Trojans push themselves by playing stiff competition.
Participating in the Michigan City Marquette Invitational over the weekend, Triton was in a tournament with (Class 4A, No. 2) Elkhart Memorial, (Class 2A, No. 5) Fairfield, (Class 1A, No. 1) Michigan City Marquette and (Class 1A, No. 5) Pioneer, taking sixth place.
"It actually helps us a lot, because it shows us what our strengths and weaknesses are," Meister said. "Marquette has always been our sectional problem. When we play better teams like that, it prepares us more for biggers games."
And with Marquette in their sectional, Meister is hoping the tough early season schedule can lead to some postseason wins.
"The girls would really like that sectional championship this year," she said. "I think it's very attainable."
TRITON DEF. TIPPECANOE VALLEY 25-13, 20-25, 25-10, 25-21
