The Patrick County Cougars hosted the two-time defending state volleyball champs, Glenvar on September 5.
Despite getting off to a strong start, the Cougars fell in three sets, 14-25, 11-25, 17-25.
The opening set stayed close, with neither team able to put many points together. The Cougars took the lead for the first time in the set at 10-9 as the two teams battled back and forth. Glenvar pulled away with a 9-1 run and ultimately took the set, 14-25.
In the second, Glenvar got off to a fast start, going up by 10 at 5-15. The Cougars battled back but couldn’t make up the difference before Glenvar won the set, 11-25.
The third set was the strongest performance for the Cougars. They took the early lead by two points and held it for the first part of the set. Glenvar chipped away, tying the score at 10-10. Many long rallies highlighted the set, with both teams keeping points alive, but with Glenvar taking most of the long points. Glenvar went on a 3-9 run, pulling out to a 13-19 lead, finishing the set, and the match, 17-24.
Coach Heidi Moore liked the way her team competed.
“We came out fired up in the first set. I wish we could have kept that intensity the entire time. But we showed we can compete, and we showed some heart and determination in the third set to give a little bit of a battle.” Moore also thought the Cougars “adapted to the game, and they didn’t show any quit.”
One struggle for the Cougars was putting together any kind of multiple point run against the defending champs.
“We struggled with that part,” said Coach Moore. “I think there were times where it looked like we were rolling. We had a lot of hustle plays and big, long rallies, but we didn’t put the ball down.”
Overall, Coach Moore thought there were positives from the night’s action. “They picked on some of our weaknesses, which are things we’re working on, but those weaknesses were not as evident tonight. I thought this was the best we’ve swung at the ball this season.”
The top performers for the Lady Cougars were Lilly Hazelwood with 5 kills and 3 blocks. Jayden Callahan chipped in 5 kills and 15 digs, Journey Moore had twenty digs, and Camille Gonzalez added 14 assists, 3 kills and 1 ace.
Looking ahead, Coach Moore feels the team is “getting a little better each game and hopefully that’s what we continue to do throughout the season.”
Upcoming home games for the Cougars include hosting Carroll County on September 19 and Bassett on September 26. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
