Momentum swings quickly in volleyball matches. On every serve either team can score the point, so teams have to be ready from the start.
Allen Community College’s Red Devils were knocked for a loop right from the get-go by visiting Butler Community College Wednesday. In their home opener, the Red Devils fell into a 9-0 hole that they never recovered from and they lost the match in three sets.
The Grizzlies’ first server used a nine-point run to give Butler the advantage in the first set. Allen got out to a lead in the second set but couldn’t hold it.
Butler finished with a quick lead in the third set and held Allen at bay. The Grizzlies defeated the Red Devils 25-19, 25-22, 25-19.
“The scores would indicate a close match but that’s deceptive,” said Jessica Peters, ACC head coach.
“The only time we were on a run was at the end of each set when Butler had relaxed because they were not being challenged and began making errors themselves.”
After falling behind 12-2 in the first set, Allen got back to 14-9 on three-point service runs by Danielle Goodman and Adriee Munoz. But Peters pointed out Allen’s serve receive game made too many errors throughout the match.
Jacqui Ortiz, who served for 10 points in the match, began the second set with three service points and Allen had the lead. Butler tied it at 7-7 and moved ahead.
Allen stayed close but never mounted a serious threat to regain the lead. Butler got a quick lead in the third set and never gave it up.
Munoz ended up with five service points and Goodman had four. Randi Billings served three points, followed by two from Hayley Mertens and one from Tayler Shook.
Mertens and Goodman each delivered six kills for the Red Devils. Billings and Sierra Morgison had four kills apiece. Ortiz and Sidney Keith had three kills each. Cheyanne Miller had two kills and Munoz had one.
Setters Ortiz and Munoz each were credited with 12 set assists. Shook had 15 digs and Ortiz 11.
Peters said Keith and Morgison were effective for the Red Devils “when we could utilize them and were successful with the offensive attack when given the ball.”
“The big stat jumping out at you is 49 errors in a three-set match. You can’t win doing that,” Peters said. “I have a group of girls that I’m proud of and know what potential they possess.
“The reality is we are in season now. There is no more preseason, it is season.”
