CROTHERSVILLE
Crothersville opened up early leads in the first two sets and used a strong finish in the third set to top Medora 25-9, 25-19, 25-11 in varsity volleyball action Thursday night.
The Tigers jumped on top 3-1 in the first set before Rebekah Cook stepped to the serving line and scored 13 straight points to put the Tigers in command. Cook, who was 28-28-7 serving for the match, had six aces during that rally.
The Hornets came back with four straight points with a kill by Kayla Newby making it a 16-5 score before the Tigers built their lead and used an attacking error by the Hornets for set point.
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Crothersville coach Carly Blevins was pleased to see her team get off to a fast start.
“They were definitely attacking the net a lot more than they have been and they have been covering a lot better as well," she said. "Their serves were off tonight but they made it work.
“I’m proud of them. They have really improved from the beginning of the season.”
The Tigers used an ace by Kaylee Caudill to open a 12-6 lead in the second set before the Hornets rallied and closed to 17-15 on back-to-back aces by Alyssa Caudill.
A pair of aces by Medora’s Jarey Babcock left her team trailing 21-19 before the Tigers closed out the set on a kill by Kennadi Lakins.
Medora coach Missy Stewart said she was encouraged by the play of her team in the second set.
“They showed their momentum the second set tonight," she said. "They did really good. They looked like they were going to come back and maybe win one and they just got down on their passing, and some of them get down on themselves.
"I’ve got a really inexperienced team, I only have one senior and I’ve got a couple girls that have never even played before, so they have improved a lot just getting them to believe in themselves.”
She said she will have the team work on serve receive and communication today in practice.
“I told them they are not moving their feet, they’re not talking," Stewart continued. "They think they can do this through eye communication but I told them that won’t work, ‘you have to call the ball, step up and you can’t be afraid to pass the ball.’ ”
Medora started out strong in the third set and sparked by two aces by Keyla Newby had a 7-5 lead.
Crothersville followed on a 7-1 run to lead 12-8, then used a kill by Cook to lead 18-11, and finished the match on a 7-0 run.
Blevins said, “In the third set we came back strong. I put the starters back in and they worked well together. They have a lot of chemistry with each other.”
Medora had only six players eligible for the match and Stewart said three players reported to the team late and she is looking forward to them becoming eligible next week.
“Once I get the other three it will help relieve some pressure on the team, I believe, because right now they’re just stressed out, especially the girls that have never played," she said. "You can see in their eyes that they are a little bit scared. I can take them out and let them get their composure back and put them back in.”
Mikayla Helt was 18-18-6 serving for the Tigers (3-6), while Addy Cole was 9-12-3 and Cook 8-8-2 in attacks.
Newby was 12-16-4 attacking for Medora, while Babcock was 11-12-5 in serves.
Medora (0-7 including forfeits) will host Evansville Christian at 1 p.m. Saturday in a Southern Roads Conference match, and the Tigers (3-6) will travel to South Decatur Monday.