8th GRADE JUNIOR LADY PUP SPIKERS GO 1-3

‘A’ team goes 1-1, ‘B’ team finishes 0-2

By Staff

BUHLER – On Monday, the McPherson Middle School eighth grade volleyball team went to Buhler Prairie Hills for a triangular with Prairie Hills and Haysville West where they won one and lost three of their four matches.

The eighth grade ’A’ team won in straight sets over Haysville West (25-11 / 25-10) to begin the day before losing in straight sets (23-25 / 12-25) to Prairie Hills.

According to the coaches the girls battle some hardships with an injury right at the onset of the games but yet they showed flexibility and strong effort in their first match with Haysville West.

“We had quite a few kills and some blocks against Haysville West,” noted head coach Christine Pianalto. “We were able to defeat Prairie Hills last week, but they came back and, in our rematch, made some strong serves and hits. The Junior Lady Pups did not receive or pass well during that match. Though we put together a couple of runs here and there, the girls did not communicate well, and we were not able to put any pressure on them through attacks at the net.”

The ‘A’ team is now 7-3 for the season.

Losing both matches to Haysville West (25-27 / 21-25) and Prairie Hills (10-25 / 9-25) the eighth grade ‘B’ team drops to just 2-8 on the season.

According to ‘B’ team coach Tami Malm, “Due to some absences, we only had six players which makes it hard to finish matches. The girls played well against Haysville West, getting passes to our setter and we were able to get some hits. Against Prairie Hills, we defeated ourselves by not moving our feet or communicating.”

Next up for the two eighth grade Junior Lady Pup volleyball teams will be at Salina Lakewood on Thursday.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)