- April 18, 2024
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After winning each preseason match and the first two games of the season without dropping any sets, the Lady Bucs surrendered two sets and ultimately a third to the Matanzas Lady Pirates to fall for the first time this season on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Matanzas.
“We didn’t our best tonight, but there’s room for improvement,” coach Sandy Garner said. “I thought Matanzas played really well. They outhit us, served well; they did a good job.”
Mainland took the first set 25-16, but the Lady Pirates won the next 25-17. Mainland fired back to edge out Matanzas 25-21 in the third, and, when it seemed as if they were going to finish the match, when they forced a deuce, the Pirates won consecutive points to take the fourth set 27-25 and force a final set.
In the final set, the Lady Pirates never trailed, using an early 4-0 run to create space that the Lady Bucs could never reel in. They beat the Bucs 15-12.
“We hit the ball right into the blocks,” Garner added. “We have to work on some shots around the blocks instead of just patty-caking it over. Our strength is that we can hit the ball hard; we just have to.”
The Lady Bucs will look to rebound against Pine Ridge Thursday, Sept. 3, at Mainland.
Game stats: Kamari Potter had 12 kills; Ashley Monkhouse nine kills; Tori Huffman 31 assists; Morgan Mundell eight kills and seven aces.
