Inconsistencies lead to Lake Region State volleyball loss to DCB
The highs were high and the lows were low Wednesday for the Lake Region State College volleyball team.
Article by Sam Herder, Devils Lake Journal Sports, September 15th, 2016.
The highs were high and the lows were low Wednesday for the Lake Region State College volleyball team.
The lows led to large deficits. The highs led to spirited comebacks. But the Royals could never get over the hump in a 3-0 loss to Dakota College at Bottineau (20-25, 21-25, 23-25).
"I'm at a coaching stalemate," LRSC head coach Brigitte Greywater said. "We need people to step up on the floor and to get it done and know they can win. When that happens, we will have success because we have talent and team unity. But we do struggle communicating and we do have a lot of hitting errors."
The Royals couldn't get their hits down early in the match, which gave DCB a quick and easy 10-1 lead. LRSC adjusted and came back to lead 12-11.
But the lead didn't last long as the Ladyjacks went on another run to go up 17-12.
Again, LRSC came clawing back to a 22-20 deficit, but DCB scored the set's last three points to take a 1-0 match lead.
"It was a roller coaster ride," Greywater said. "You're at the top and you're at the bottom. When you play a game that way, it takes a lot of mental beating. And how do you find a way to come out of it? You have to believe you can win. We struggled on that front."
LRSC began the second set with a Payton Kritzberger ace, but trailed the rest of the way.
The Royals brought the deficit to a couple points several times, including 22-20 after a Hannah Hextall kill, yet DCB was able to sustain its lead for a 25-21 set win.
"We struggled at key points," Greywater said. "We have just a few mental errors. It's not one person's fault. We have big momentum points that take us down. When we keep losing those momentum points, we're going to struggle. As soon as we're up, up, up, then it takes you back at the bottom of the roller coaster."
The third set saw a more complete performance by the Royals. After back-and-forth scoring to start, LRSC took an 8-7 lead. The Royals led or were tied until DCB scored five straight points to go up 23-21.
The Ladyjacks went on to win 25-23 to get the match sweep.
LRSC is now 3-11 overall and 0-2 in the Mon-Dak Conference.
Up next is a trip to the WyoBraska Tournament this weekend before returning home to face Jamestown JV at 7 p.m. Monday.
"I really believe in this team," Greywater said. "I want them to believe in themselves. When we get there, it will be pretty. We saw a huge connection a few times tonight. If that happens consistently, it is one good volleyball team."
