Raiders sweep Jay Co. (09/03/04)

PORTLAND — The Jay County volleyball team is trying to climb back to .500. But another ranked team, the third so far on the Patriots’ schedule, was too much to overcome Thursday.

Jay County (4-7) was able to play with the Class 2A No. 5 Wapahani Raiders for a while, but was too inconsistent in a 25-21, 25-14, 25-21 defeat.

“We actually started to play with them pretty well,” said Patriot coach Fred Medler. “We were right there battling with them in game one and then we just lost that intensity. In game two we were out there and the intensity was gone. We just couldn’t gain it back at all.”

Jay County took leads of 5-2 and 7-3 in the first game, but couldn’t hold the advantage. Wapahani evened the match several times, tying it at 16 on an Ashley Overla attack error and taking the lead for good on a kill from sophomore captain Haylee Slusher.

The Raiders (5-3) scored four points in a row, and added another stretch of four straight for a 24-19 lead. A couple of attack errors gave the Patriots some life, but the visitors closed out the 25-21 game-one win.

Wapahani led just 9-6 in the second game after an Overla kill and a block by junior Kelly Sautbine, but it dominated the rest of the way. Kara Reinke and Aubrey McDonald each delivered aces as the Raiders went on a 7-2 run to take command.

They finished the second game with an 8-3 run.

Melder said he thought his team started to get the intensity back as it took a 16-14 lead in the third game. But, passing difficulties returned for the Patriots as Wapahani tied it at 16 and 20 and then took over.

The Raiders got back-to-back kills from Slusher, an ace from Reinke and several Jay County errors to complete the victory.

“The last week we’ve played really well,” said Wapahani coach Tim Lyon, whose team has won four straight. “Overall I thought even though our passing wasn’t as good as we’d like it to be we played really good defense. Our attack was very successful.”

Slusher led the attack with nine kills, while fellow sophomore Jenny Straub and freshman Emily Smithson each added eight. Senior Kristen Carter had three blocks.

Smithson and junior Aubrey McDonald paced the defense with nine digs apiece. McDonald and Reinke each notched three aces, and Reinke dealt 29 assists.

Medler said he felt his team started to lose its composure after sophomore Theresa Reinhart left midway through the first game. Reinhart departed the match because of sharp pain under her shoulder blade.

“It limits your choices,” said Medler. “From that time on we don’t have the luxury of moving people in and out. It just creates a mind block.

“As much as anything this team gets a mind block. Then the intensity goes away and then they start questioning their ability to hang with people. That’s what we had early, then we got rid of it for a week or so. But again it showed up against a pretty good opponent, but one that we could play with.”

Jamie Walker posted four kills and four points for the Patriots, and fellow senior Erin St. Myers had 19 digs and four points. Overla and fellow senior Shannon O’Dell had five and four kills respectively.

Senior Janae Roush had 12 digs, and another senior, Miranda Tingley, notched seven assists. Senior Julie Sours, Sautbine and sophomore Erica Clark each scored four points.

Jay County will play again Tuesday at home against Liberty Christian at 5:30 p.m.

Junior varsity

The Patriot junior varsity team was close in both games, but still took a 27-25, 32-30 loss to Wapahani.

After dropping a tight first game Jay County trailed 24-21 in the second before scoring three straight points to forge a tie. The teams traded points all the way to 30-30 before the Raiders stepped ahead and then took the win on a kill from Brooke Ferris.

Sharon Dirksen paced the Patriots with seven digs, five points and four assists. Jessica Muhlenkamp had eight digs and five points.

Maria Miller scored four points and added two kills, and Mary Spencer had four kills.[[In-content Ad]]