HILLSBORO: Trojan netters falter at Ellinwood
Volleyball team can't finish the Eagles, loses both matches
Staff writer
The Hillsboro High School varsity volleyball team couldn't finish the job Tuesday as they played the Ellinwood Eagles at Ellinwood and lost both matches.
In the first match, Hillsboro lost to Ellinwood 21-17, 13-21, 21-16, 15-21, 6-15.
Hillsboro won the first game, lost the second, and won the third, but it was unable to put Ellinwood away in the fourth game. The teams played a fifth game, and the Lady Trojans came up empty for a win in the first match.
"In the first game, we were playing well as a team," coach Collette Burton said. "We were really aggressive and focused."
Junior Alisa Prior led the team in serves and serve receives. She was 100 percent in making 10 of 10 serves and making nine of nine serve receives. Senior Elise Matz was 100 percent from the serving line, making six of eight and two aces.
Senior Elise Jost led the team in attacks, making 12 of 15 and two kills, followed by sophomore Charity Davis who made 10 of 17 and five kills.
Senior April Funk was 93.2 percent in setting, making 53 of 73 and 15 assists.
Prior led in the number of digs with 13, followed by Matz with 11, Davis with 10, and senior Adrien Bebermeyer with nine.
In the second match, Hillsboro was defeated 9-21, 21-13, 21-18, 21-11, 8-15.
The Lady Trojans lost the first two games but managed to fight back and win the next two games, forcing Ellinwood to another fifth game.
Hillsboro had three players who served 100 percent in the second match. Prior who was 18 of 18, Davis was 12 of 13 and one ace, and Funk was 12 of 12.
"What hurt us in the second match was our serve receives," Burton said. "Our percentages really dropped from the first match."
The team was 84.6 percent in the first match and 76.4 percent in the second match in serve receives.
Davis and Prior led the team in serve receives, making 11 of 13 and 12 of 15, respectively.
Davis led the team in attacks, making 12 of 15 and two kills. Senior Andrea King made nine of 11 and one kill, followed by Matz who made 21 of 34 and five kills.
Davis also led the team in the most digs with 14.
Funk was 94.4 percent in setting, making 68 of 89 with 16 assists.
"I was very proud of the girls for fighting back, " Burton said. "It is very hard to go five games each match and not come out on top."
The varsity will travel Saturday to Canton to compete in Canton-Galva tournament which will be played the traditional way. Game time is 9 a.m.
The team will host the Halstead on Tuesday and will go back to rally scoring. Game time is 6 p.m.
"I have seen improvements throughout the season," Burton said. "I think the girls have to believe in themselves and that they can win not only games but a match."
"They just need to keep their heads up and we will be where we need to be at sub-state," she said.
