Marysville’s Sara Berkland (7) and Olivia Herzog (15) go up for a block Wednesday evening against Newark Catholic. The Lady Monarchs dropped the match, 3-1.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Marysville High School varsity volleyball coach Bethany Bentz has developed a new buzz-word for her team…. “Finish.”
Bentz said that’s what the Lady Monarchs must learn how to do following their 3-1 setback to Newark Catholic on Wednesday.
“We have to learn that when we get the lead, we have to finish games,” said Bentz. “We had a nice lead in the first set and we’ve got to be able to finish and play with great energy all the way through.”
The opening game was a big example of what Bentz was saying.
The Lady Monarchs held four to six-point advantages for much of the set.
They led at one point 17-11 after a Green Wave hitting error.
A bad serve reception, a Newark Catholic ace serve and an MHS hitting miscue allowed the visitors to pull to within 17-16.
Marysville (which slipped to 5-10 on the season) regained a bit of steam in a hot home gymnasium and regained a four-point spread at 21-17.
The Lady Monarchs tallied only one additional point, however, on an errant Green Wave block.
The visitors finished strong to win the opening set, 25-22.
The ensuing game was deadlocked at various early points before Newark Catholic started a surge.
Carrissa Baker’s long kill later narrowed MHS’ deficit to 11-9.
The Wave tallied five out of the next six points to go on top 16-10 after a Marysville serving mistake.
Kills from Jazmine Williams and Baker kept the Lady Monarchs within striking distance, but MHS could not get any closer than three points.
An ace serve gave the Green Wave their final point as they won 25-19 to go up 2-0.
To their credit, the Lady Monarchs (who will travel to Central Crossing tonight) refused to wave the white flag.
They jumped out to an 8-2 lead to begin the third set, thanks in part to kills from Williams and Lily Keber.
Newark Catholic never seemed to get in synch during this game as it fell behind by as much at 18-12 on another kill from Williams.
The Green Wave did mount a bit of a comeback, pulling to within 18-16 on an MHS passing error.
Kaylee Rich’s kill gave the Lady Monarchs a bit more breathing room.
The visitors then committed a handful of hitting mistakes, pushing Marysville out to a 21-16 margin.
A couple of NC blocks narrowed the gap to 21-19.
A serving error and a hitting miscue by the visitors gave MHS a 25-20 victory.
“Our connections were very good in this game,” said Bentz. “The girls found the ball well.”
By the time the fourth set began, it was apparent that fatigue was starting to set in as the teams battled in the stifling gym.
The Green Wave jumped out to a 6-1 lead and the Lady Monarchs could never catch up the rest of the way.
An ace serve gave Newark Catholic an 18-7 lead and from there, the visitors rolled to a 25-11 triumph.
“This was the second consecutive night that we went to four sets in a hot gym,” said Bentz. “Newark Catholic got out to a strong lead (in the fourth game) and we got tired.
“We can’t, however, use that as an excuse,” she said. “We have to find ways to finish matches.”
Baker led MHS with eight kills and Keber added six.
Madi Bentz tallied 18 digs and Rich scored 20 points on serves.