Ark Valley News - Eighth-grade B team places fourth at tournament

Eighth-grade B team places fourth at tournament
By The News staff
Last Updated: September 20, 2018

The Hornets played Goddard and Andover Sept. 13, as the seventh-graders headed to Andover and the eighth-graders were at home. Only eighth-grade A posted a victory, sweeping both opponents. Both B teams played in tournaments Sept. 15 and went a combined 3-5.

For the season, 8A is 9-1, 8B is 4-6, 7A is 5-5 and 7B is 4-6.

The seventh-graders will host Andover Central and Derby North Sept. 20. That same day, the eighth-graders will play these same two teams at Andover Central.

Eighth grade — The A team beat Goddard 25-11, 25-21.

"We played well, especially the first set," coach Kyrie Edwards said. "I am really proud of their intensity, and the hard hits that Dylan Cochran continues to produce. Dani Leinen did really well in the back row, moving her feet and covering her hitters."

It took three sets, but Valley prevailed over Andover 15-25, 25-11, 15-10.

"Andover was more dominant at the net and therefore took us by surprise and won the first set," Edwards said. "We bounced back with some hard hits again from Korah Nash and Cochran. Emma Bond had some pretty passes in the back row. I am proud of their intensity and willingness to fight back in yet another match that went to three sets."

The B team played a tournament at Derby North on Sept. 15 and finished fourth.

The Hornets defeated Andover 15-25, 25-20, 15-9 with 100 percent serving from Ainsley Kraus and Lucy Hooper. Gracie Orr and Jaylee Adams played well, too.

Valley defeated Goddard 25-19, 25-12 with consistent serving from the entire team.

However, the next two matches were different, as the Hornets lost to Eisenhower 13-25, 18-25 and Maize South 15-25, 20-25.

"I felt like we were stuck to the floor with super glue at times," coach JoAnn Owens said of the last two matches. "We just could seem to get our groove from the first two games back.

"Overall, I felt the day was a success. I saw greatly improved net play by Sykora Smith and Maliah Maus. Each girl on this team brings a special talent that makes us great. When we have them all active at the same time we do unbelievable things."

The B team lost in three to Goddard 15-25, 25-16, 11-15.

"The first set, we had slow feet and missed serves which let to our loss," Owens said. "We found our groove in the second game with 14 straight serves by Kennedy Johnson. Ava Titus had some great hustle plays."

The Hornets stepped up their game against Andover but couldn't quite get it done, losing 23-25, 20-25.

"We came back to face Andover and were on fire," Owens said. "We had so much energy, even though we lost in two sets. We worked really hard, talked a lot and had great scores. It's hard to say I am happy with a loss, but truly the girls played their hardest. Ainsley Kraus had great serves, and Sykora Smith and Maliah Maos were awesome at the net."

Seventh grade — The A team lost to Goddard 15-25, 25-19, 12-15.

"We beat ourselves with mental mistakes and missed serves," Edwards said. "However, in the second game, Avery Looney stepped up with some big serves to get us in the game, and Macee Lehr really came through to serve about six in a row for the win."

It was the same story with Andover, a 15-25, 25-20, 10-15 loss.

"Miscommunication and mental mistakes were our downfall again in this match, but I saw pieces of some of the best and most exciting volleyball we've played this year," Edwards said.

At the B team tournament Sept. 15 in Andover, Valley was 1-3. Its only victory was over Derby 25-11, 25-17. Valley then lost to Goddard 17-25, 13-25; Andover 19-25,32-30, 11-15; and Andover Central 25-20, 13-25, 11-15.

"The girls played well; we just got caught in a couple serve receives and weren't able to come back," coach Courtney Fields said. "Kalli Griffin served well throughout the day, and Jessica Neff really stepped up as a vocal leader."

The Hornets also lost both games in a triangular, falling to Goddard 11-25, 17-25 and Andover 9-25, 16-25.

"The girls played really flat tonight with little communication and energy," Fields said. "As a positive, Ryleigh Kurtz stepped up as a leader."