HHS: Netters lose at Lyons
Team places fourth
at Centre Invitational
Staff writer
The Hillsboro High School varsity team traveled Tuesday to Lyons and came away empty handed and had a very disappointing night. The Lady Trojans lost both matches to the Lady Lions.
Hillsboro managed to win only one game in the first match, losing 8-21, 10-21, 23-21, 11-21.
"I did see some improvement from the last game," Coach Collette Burton said. "We did a good job digging out the ball, and our blocking was a little better."
The Lady Trojans had 42 digs in the first match. Junior Alisa Prior led the team with 15 digs followed by senior Elise Matz with 10.
"Lyons had some good servers out there," Burton said, "and that held us back for awhile."
"We changed our defensive coverage to match their outside hitter, and I was proud of the girls for picking that up quickly," she said.
Sophomore Charity Davis, Matz, and junior Katie Fast led the team in attacks. Davis was 15 of 20 with two kills, Matz was 12 of 13, Fast was 12 of 14. Senior April Funk was 40 of 43 in good sets.
In the second match, the Lady Trojans won the first game of the second match, but lost the next three, 21-19, 14-21, 11-21, 7-21.
The Lady Lions fought back after that first lost to Hillsboro and dominated things on the court. Their scrappiness and digging ability left the Lady Trojans frustrated and pretty much out of it by the end of what became a very long the night.
"We need to be a more intense team continuously," Burton said. "And to show a little more excitement on the court."
Hillsboro had 103 sets with only nine assists in the second match — a concern for Burton.
"That means we are not hitting the ball down hard enough or tipping it to a spot on the court where the other teams can't return it," Burton said.
Prior and Matz both continued to lead in digs with 16 and 15, respectively.
"I did see a little more chemistry with the varsity players, and I was proud they were working more together," she said.
She said the team will work on blocking this week. But her biggest goal is to work on intensity and enthusiasm.
Centre Invitational
The Lady Trojans won fourth place at the Centre Invitational Tournament held last Saturday in Lincolnville. Teams competing in the tournament were Marion, who placed first, Herington, second, Council Grove third, Hillsboro, fourth, Centre, Hope, Burrton, and Berean Academy.
"Overall, we had our ups and downs at this tournament," Coach Collette Burton said.
Hillsboro defeated Burrton in the first match 15-5, 15-3.
"We started out hard and played well," Burton said. "I saw some good things out there — the team was working together."
The Lady Trojans completed 43 of 56 serves with five aces in the first game. They had 10 blocks, three stuffs, and 16 digs.
In the second game, the team had 58 digs, 25 blocks, and eight stuffs.
In the second match of the day, Hillsboro lost to Centre 12-15, 15-12, 11-15.
"The games were close, but we lost our momentum," Burton said.
Funk was 14 of 16 and Bebermeyer was 11 of 13 from the serving line. Davis had 15 attacks and four kills. The team had a total of 58 digs with Prior, Matz and Funk picking up 10 each.
In match three against Herington, Hillsboro lost in three again 8-15, 15-11, 11-15.
"It was pretty much the same thing, Burton said. "We lost our momentum.
Funk and Davis led in digs with 11 each, followed by Matz with 10. Fast had 12 blocks and six stuffs.
According to tournament rules, Hillsboro advanced to the semi-finals because of Centre's lost to Burrton, and Hillsboro had the highest number of points of the three teams.
"The girls thought they were finished for the day," she said, "and struggled coming back."
In the semi-final match against Marion, Hillsboro lost 4-15, 9-15.
After losing the first game 4-15, the Trojans came out leading Marion, but Marion regrouped and came from behind to beat Hillsboro in two.
The Lady Trojans played for third and fourth place against Council Grove.
Hillsboro lost 10-15, 4-15.
Davis was chosen as one of the 12 members of the All-Tournament team.
"Congratulations to Charity for being chosen as a member of the All-Tournament team," Burton said. "She did a good job playing all the way around."
The team will play Tuesday at Smoky Valley in Lindsborg. Game time is 6 p.m.
Their season record is now 3-8 and league record is 2-3.
