The W.S. Neal JV and varsity volleyball teams opened its 2015 season at home Thursday against the Jay Lady Royals and came away with a split.
The JV Lady Eagles started its season 1-0 as they rallied to defeat Jay 2-1.
WSN lost set one 25-22 but won set two 26-24 to force and third set. In set three, WSN won 15-11 to get the win.
Head coach Jason Blaney said he thought the JV girls played great.
“We just changed rotation prior to the match and the girls picked it up quickly,” Blaney said. “It was a hard fought match with each set being decided by four points or less. I was proud of how they stepped up and played. They were down 24-22 in the second set and pulled it off, which was very impressive and carried that momentum into the third set.”
In set one for WSN, Caitlin Hartsel and Janiya McCants led with two service points. In set two, Alexis McNew and Anijah Stewart led with four service points each. Both had one ace. Dominique Jackson followed with the final three service points of the game, two being aces. In set three, Stewart led with four service points.
In the varsity games, Jay swept WSN 3-0. The Lady Royals earned a 25-13 win in set one and a 25-15 win in set two.
In set three, Jay earned the win with a 25-23 win.
Blaney said Jay is very well-coached team under head coach Scott Campbell and they play very well together.
“I think that in the first two sets we came out tight and nervous,” Blaney said. “We had way too many service errors and attack errors in the first two sets. Set three we started to pull it together, but came up just short.”
Blaney said one thing his team still has to work on is their communication and chemistry.
“When we started to loosen we played well and hit the ball hard,” he said. “I was proud of how each set we improved and look forward to getting back on the court next week.”
In set one, Karissa Johnson led with two service points and one kill.
In set two, Johnson had two aces and one kill while Dinah Samuel had three service points and one kill. One of Samuel’s points was an ace.
In set three, Johnson led with two aces and two kills while Samuel had four aces and two kills.