LRSC unable to hold leads in 3-0 loss to NDSCS

Article by Sam Herder, Devils Lake Journal Sports, October 6th, 2016. 

The Lake Region State College volleyball team took the lead eight different times in the second set of Wednesday's match against North Dakota State College of Science.

Every time, the Wildcats would come back to tie it. Unable to hold the lead, LRSC eventually allowed a late run and NDSCS went up 2-0 in the match.

That second set summed up the match for the Royals, who were right there, but couldn't get a run going in the 3-0 loss (21-25, 19-25, 19-25).

"We were hesitant," LRSC head coach Brigitte Greywater said. "We were so hesitant. I think that the stuff that happens between your ears can't overcome you. That's what happened to us. We didn't finish on leads at all. Many times we were up, and we wanted to stay two or three points behind the whole time. And then we got to about 17, we let them take off."

Down 20-18 in the first set, LRSC tied it up with an Amber Stewart kill and an Evan Stack ace. After allowing two straight points, Hannah Hextall got a kill to make the deficit 22-21. But the Wildcats finish the set with three straight points to get the win.

The Royals and Wildcats swapped points for most of the second set. LRSC held a one point lead eight times and a two point lead three times.

But the Royals could never get a run going to take full control of the set. 

Tied at 18-18 after a Katie Dufner ace, LRSC allowed five straight points as the Wildcats won the set 25-19.

After being down 6-2 in the third set, LRSC rallied to score six straight points to take the lead. But it was all Wildcats from there, retaking the lead and holding on to it midway through the set to get the match sweep.

"We have grown accustomed to very good passing and we didn't pass our best ball this evening," Greywater said. "When we put the big picture together, again, wonderful volleyball team. But you need to show up on every end every night. Our blocking struggled at times. And serve-receive struggled more than usual."

LRSC is now 1-6 in the Mon-Dak Conference with two conference games remaining until the Sub-Regional XIII Tournament on Oct. 22.

"Every day, we have to find a way to bring it together," Greywater said. "You have to overcome those hiccups in the road. We just didn't do that tonight."