BELPRE - Sometimes you just lose focus.
With homecoming approaching at Belpre High, volleyball head coach Stephanie Evans said that is what happened to the Lady Golden Eagles in a loss to Trimble Thursday.
"I think we played a little bit distracted tonight," Evans said. "There is a lot of stuff going on with homecoming festivities. I think that our focus wasn't where it should have been tonight."
The Lady Tomcats won in three games, by scores of 25-12, 25-16, and 25-12. The loss drops Belpre's record to 5-11, but Evans likes what she has seen from her young team this season.
"As far as our year, I couldn't be more proud of the girls for how hard they've been working. They have improved tremendously. We're a very young team. We have no seniors, one junior, and we have a very bright future ahead of us. We're hoping to get back on track next week and get some more wins on the schedule."
After losing the first game, Belpre made a good effort to take the second game. After dropping the first five points, the Lady Golden Eagles went on a 9-8 run to make the score 13-9 in Trimble's favor. However, the Lady Tomcats took the next nine points to make it 22-9, and ended up winning the game 25-16.
Fact Box
Trimble d. Belpre 25-12, 25-16, 25-12
Belpre (5-11) stats: Henderson 4pts; Carr 3pts, 2kills, 2blocks; Katelyn Hughes 2pts; Brianna Owen 1pt, 1asst; Loren Elliot 5pts, 1kill; Kirsten Hannah 2asst; Netanya Wageheim 1pt
Next match: Miller at Belpre at 6 p.m. Monday
"We didn't do a good job of receiving the ball tonight," Evans said. "We can't let the opponent go on serving streaks like that. That took us out of our game. Once we got down a few serves, we couldn't recover."
One key to Trimble's success was putting the ball in spots where Belpre players could not get to. Evans liked what her team was able to do when they did get to the ball.
"When we hit the ball, we do a good job," she said. "I tell the girls all the time 'When you hit the ball, good things happen.' It all starts with the pass. We have got to get the pass to our setters, that way we can do the hitting. I'm very happy when I see the girls hitting."
Trimble on the other hand was able to get to the ball a lot more during the match, which head coach Shelly Lackey said was important.
"Our transitioning and our movement were big for us," Lackey noted.
Individually for Belpre, Loren Elliot led the with five points, and also added a kill. Taryn Carr also had a nice game in the front with two blocks, three points and two kills.
Cheyenne Henderson had four points, and Kirsten Hannah led the team with two assists.
The Lady Golden Eagles play their next game Monday at 6 p.m. when they host Miller.
