Volleyball breaks into win column at Gar-Pal

PALOUSE–Pirate volleyball worked through not only a short practice schedule but a busy four-game week, improving with each match until winning at Garfield-Palouse Saturday for a 1-5 record.

Pomeroy gets home-court advantage the next three games: March 2 versus Colton; Mar. 4 v. Tekoa-Rosalia and Oakesdale on Mar. 6.

Without many practices,” commented Coach Adam Van Vogt, “the coaching staff has stressed the importance of learning through the games. I believe we are doing a good job of this and I am really proud of how our girls have used early season adversity to keep improving.”

It paid off with a four-set win at Gar-Pal, 25-14, 25-19, 14-25, 25-16. Five Pirates were crucial in the win: Jillian Herres with 25 assists; Keely Maves with nine kills and four blocks; Elizabeth Ruchert with six kills and two blocks; Kendall Dixon’s 21 of 21 serving with three aces, two kills and two blocks; and Chloe Mayfield hammering five kills and serving five aces.

“With the exception of Colton, I think we played better each match this week than we did the one before,” Van Vogt said. “Even though Colton wasn’t a great game for us, I think we learned some valuable lessons about confidence, playing as a team, and picking up our teammates. Our serving has remained consistently at 90% or above while we are getting more confidence spot serving and targeting other players who might give us an advantage.”

Oakesdale (2/25)

Lost 7-25, 17-25, 16-25. Maves six kills, 2 blocks; Herres 16 assists, four aces; Mckenzie Watko 14 digs.

Colton (2/24)

Lost 12-25, 12-25, 16-25. Maves five kills, four aces; Herres 10 assists, three aces; Watko seven aces; Dixon six aces, two kills.

SJEL (2/23)

Lost 25-17, 8-25, 23-25, 16-25. Herres 16 assists, four aces; Chase Caruso six kills; Mayfield 10 digs, three aces, two kills; Watko 10 digs, two aces; Josie Zimmerman two digs.

The team’s serve receive and blocking have also steadily improved, Van Vogt said. There wasn’t a single block against Colton, then four versus Oakesdale and eight at GP. “Our increase in blocking and serve receive proficiency really helps everything else play up,” Van Vogt said. “It makes our setting easier, gives us more attack options, and puts our hitters in better position to succeed.”

He praised Watko’s passing, especially in serve receive. “She is learning to read hitters from the middle position better every game,” he said.

Maves is fine tuning timing and becoming an offensive force. “Not only will it give us the consistent hitter we need, but it will free up hitting opportunities for others as well as our opponents will have to plan for her,” Van Vogt said.

Katie Boyer came off the bench against Oakesdale ready to play, passed extremely well, gave us a spark off the bench, and made some great digs, he commented.