By Arv Koontz | For the Tribune
CROTHERSVILLE
Crothersville’s volleyball team didn’t have enough intensity to match rival Austin Thursday night and the Eagles left the Tigers’ floor with a 25-7, 25-11, 21-25, 25-15 win.
Crothersville coach Carly Blevins said her team showed better teamwork in winning the third set.
“The girls played a lot better,” she said. “They were talking to each other.”
The Eagles jumped on top 5-1 in the third set before, and led 11-8 and 16-13 before the Tigers gained their first tie at 16-16.
An ace by Makayla Helt gave the Tigers their first lead at 18-17. The set was tied at 19-19 before the Tigers scored back-to-back points to take the lead for good.
Lexi James came up with a kills and followed with two aces to extend the Tigers’ lead to 24-20. The Eagles had a serve receive error on match point.
The Tigers got off to a 3-1 lead in the fourth set before the Eagles jumped on top 9-6, then went on an 8-1 rally to lead 17-7.
Austin was leading 18-9 when the Tigers rallied behind back-to-back kills by Rebekah Cook, and a pair of aces by Helt to close to 18-13. The Eagles then finished strong on a 7-2 run.
The Tigers lacked communication on defense, and had trouble returning Austin’s serves in the first two sets.
Crothersville held a 6-5 lead in the first set before Ashlynn Satterwhite served 13 straight points, including six aces, for an 18-6 lead. After the Tigers scored a point, Maci Furnish served out the win for the visitors.
The Tigers jumped on top 6-4 on an ace by Cook in the second set. This set was tied at 7-7 before Furnish served her team into a 17-7 lead.
Austin was leading 21-8 before the Tigers put on a mild rally with an ace by Addy Cole and kill by Cook setting the score 21-11.
“We had trouble with serve reception and lacked communication in the first two sets,” Blevins said. “We had an off-night. We typically don’t play like that. Our three in the back row struggled.”
Topping the Tigers in attacks were Cook with 18-19-3 and Cole with 18-19-1.
Helt was 16-17-3 and Cook 12-12-1 in serves.
Blevins said she liked the way her team battled in the third and fourth sets.
“We didn’t give up the last two sets,” she said. “There were was a lot of excitement.”
The Tigers take a 1-3 record into Friday’s match at Borden.