Bluejay spikers win three of four
The first half of the volleyball season for the Lady Bluejays is complete, now comes the hard part.
So far, the second half is starting opposite of the way the first half started.
The Bluejays opened the new season Monday at home against the St. Mary Lady Spires, beating them in three.
Tabor held off the Spires the first set, 31-29, before winning the next two, respectively, 30-25 and 30-20.
"We played more solid against St. Mary than what we have played in the past weeks," said Bluejay coach Amy Ratzlaff. "I don't think anybody had their best games, but we played well as a team and it was a good match."
Anything would have been better for Ratzlaff after what happened to her and the Bluejays Oct. 11 in Wichita against Friends.
Coming off a huge road win two days earlier at bitter-rival Bethel, the Bluejays looked flat as a pancake against the Falcons.
Friends made short work of the Bluejays in three by respective 26-30, 28-30 and 26-30 scores.
"We never got going," said Ratzlaff. "We played a mediocre game."
Freshman Staci Whitcomb led the Bluejays in attacks and kills with 27 and 16, respectively.
Sara McAllister led the team with 40 assists while Jill Hein had three aces.
Tabor ended the first half of the season 7-2 in the KCAC and 10-10 on the year.
Beating the arch-rival Lady Threshers during the regular season is nothing new for the Bluejays, the postseason is what always backfires on Tabor.
But Tabor got bittersweet satisfaction Oct. 9 in North Newton, outlasting Bethel in grueling five sets.
After posting 30-24 and 30-25 wins the first two games, Tabor dropped the next two 30-28 and 32-30.
Tabor won the deciding set 15-7.
McAllister led the Bluejays with 60 assists over the five game stretch.
Whitcomb had her first of a trio of stellar performances, tallying 21 kills and 25 digs while Rachelle Regier added a team-high nine blocks.
Tabor's busy week began Oct. 7 at home against the McPherson Lady Bulldogs.
The Bluejays beat McPherson in three, winning by 30-23, 30-16 and 30-26 scores.
McAllister had 46 assists, Angela Kroeker led with 14 kills followed by Whitcomb's 12.
The freshman Whitcomb also added 25 digs in place of Erin Loewen.
Up next for the Bluejays is a strenuous road test that started last night at Sterling.
Tabor faces Bethany in Lindsborg Tuesday and Southwestern Oct. 23 in Winfield before returning home Oct. 25 to play Bellevue in a 11 a.m. start.
