Team struggles through pool play, rallies during bracket play in Red Bluff
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RED BLUFF >> While experimenting with a new lineup didn’t pay off in the early going, the Middletown Heat 16-and-under club volleyball team finished with three straight wins to capture the silver division Saturday in the North State League tournament at Red Bluff.
Switching to a 6-2 (two-setter) alignment for its pool play, the Heat dropped all three of its matches, losing in three sets to Legacy Price (16-21, 24-22, 15-11), straight sets to OVC (21-19, 21-18), and three sets to Momentum Blue (21-11, 16-21, 15-7).
“I was trying out a new 6-2 offense and it threw us out of our winning rhythm,” Heat head coach Vanessa Davis said. “I was happy that we got the opportunity to practice this new system, and it allowed me to get in many of our players in the game.”
Added Davis, “They ran the 6-2 very well but it was clear to see that we need more practice at it. Overall, we conquered the latter half of the day, winning out in the silver bracket.”
After dropping all three of its pool matches, the Heat rallied to beat Adrenaline Kim 21-16, 21-11 and Trinity Titans 21-17, 21-18 to reach the silver division final against NSVA Red Bluff. The Heat won 21-15, 21-13.
“Gold is where we belong if we want to continue to improve as a team,” Davis said. “Our team goal for moving forward is to make sure gold bracket I where we land.”
Outside hitter Emma Davis led the way with 32 kills, 25 service points, including nine in a row during the silver championship match, 11 aces and 57 digs. Middle blocker Crystal Duval finished with 29 kills, libero Trinity Galvan contributed 39 service points, including nine straight during two different matches, and 80 digs, and setter Bridget Lisenbee added 28 service points, 15 aces, 60 assists and five kills. Brenna Goodloe had 15 kills.
“Goodloe had her best tournament to date,” Davis said. “Overall, she was very confident at her opposite role and showed improvement in all areas, including defensive coverage and her strength for attacking.”
The Heat returns to action March 29.
