The Pioneers Volleyball team had a hectic week. Winning some and losing some but overall showing a great display of talent and determination. They lost to Chinook on Tuesday, won against Centerville Thursday, then placed 4th in a 12-team tournament on Saturday.

Big Sandy vs. Chinook

Although the Chinook team won the match with a 3-set sweep, they had to work for it after the first set. Chinook dominated the first set on the home court until the end when the Pioneer Ladies seemed to pull things together and show they were as good a team as Chinook, but it was too late to make up the gap with a 14-25 loss. Going into the second set Chinook took a quick lead, but Pioneers tied it up twice, then Chinook took the lead, barely hanging on to their lead to defeat the Pioneer ladies 22-25. The third set had everyone on the edge of their seats with some exciting lengthy volleys. Although Chinook started with a lead, the Pioneers took the lead twice and held that lead for a major part of the game until Chinook pulled ahead and defeated the Pioneer ladies 22-25. It was toe to toe that last set and could have gone either way.

Coach McKenny felt that her team started the match slowly and didn’t start playing until the second set. “We really stepped it up in the third set, which proved to be ‘too little too late.” If we can figure out how to stay strong, then good things will happen for us.”

SCORES

Game 1: 14-25 Chinook

Game 2: 23-25 Chinook

Game 3: 22-25 Chinook

Individual Leaders:

Kills: Team 27 Amiya Griffith 15

Aces: Team 3 Eva Wagoner 2

Digs: Team 69 Amiya Griffith 15

Block: Team 2 Angie Sant/Eva Wagoner 1

Assists: Team 16 Jai Baumann 13

Big Sandy vs. Centerville

In the first set against the Centerville Miners, the Pioneers ladies were down by three but fought their way back into a lead which they were able to maintain, with a very intense volley for the winning point. I rewound the video, and the ball crossed the net ten times before the Miners failed to return the ball for a 25-23 loss to our ladies. Our lady Pioneers took an early 4-point lead in the second set, and while Centerville closed the gap a few times with some exciting volleys, our ladies kept their lead and won the second set 25-16. In the third and final set, our Pioneer ladies again took the lead and sustained it ending the third set 25-16 giving them a 3-set sweep.

About the Centerville match coach McKenney had high praise for her team. “Overall, I am really happy with our performance against Centerville. A 3-set sweep was just what we needed. We were scrappy defensively and passed the ball well.” Anyone watching would have to agree with McKenny. There was some exciting, scrappy playing by these young ladies. McKenny also pointed out that “Amiya Griffith had a solid night leading with 18 digs, 14 kills, two blocks, and two aces. Good things are starting to happen to us. The goal now is to take this win and use it as momentum into next week.”

SCORES

Game 1: 25-23 Big Sandy

Game 2: 25-16 Big Sandy

Game 3: 25-16 Big Sandy

Individual Leaders:

Kills: Team 30 Amiya Griffith 14

Aces: Team 6 Amiya Griffith/ Jai Bowman 2

Digs: Team 61 Amiya Griffith 18

Block: Team 2 Amiya Griffith 2

Assists: Team 21 Jai Baumann 19

Tournament results

If you are not familiar with what could be called a two-pool tournament, hopefully, this will help you as much as it helped me. According to Coach McKenny, the tournament was set up in the following way: There were two pools. One in Rudyard(where the Pioneers played) and one in Gildford. The basic rules for the tournament were as follows.

The teams played one set for 30. Had to win by two, and the cap was 35 points. Each game was 25 minutes, and if the time ran out, it went to win by 1. From this reporter’s perspective, this kind of tournament puts the teams into a do-or-die situation, with slow starts not being an option.

The Pioneer ladies finished 2nd in their pool and finished 4th overall.

I had an opportunity to visit with Team Captain Amiya Griffith, a senior, to get her perspective on this year’s team. She agreed that the team “started slow” and needed to “start better” However, Griffith feels “we are as good as Chinook’.” She thinks that “if the offense plays well and defense is clicking can beat Chinook.” Griffith feels that the struggle is being a young team, yet the young players have stepped up and are doing a great job. When asked about the team’s strengths, she was quick to say, “We play well together.” She feels the team members support and encourage each other, which is a great help. But similar to the football team, there could be more chatter from the sidelines and the bench to help keep the energy up. Griffith has great confidence in her team and feels “we can beat any team in our District.”

Having had the opportunity to watch both the Chinook and Centerville matches, The team should feel confident.