Jessica Peters figured her Allen Community College volleyball squad would have a tough task Monday.
Top-ranked Cowley County Community College was in town to take on the Red Devils, for ACC’s Sophomore Night.
“We started with a missed serve, and that set the tone for the night,” Peters said as Cowley made quick work of the Red Devils, winning in straight sets, 25-15, 25-14, 25-18.
“I don’t know if it was nerves, because it was our last home game, or we were up against the number-one team in the nation,” Peters said. “It could have been a lot of factors. But at this point in the season, I’m not looking for excuses.
“All that we’ve asked of the players is to perform,” she continued. “We’re at the point of the season where performing should be second nature … I’m frustrated.”
Peters pointed to Allen’s errors — the Red Devils had as many hitting errors (19) as kills — as a key factor.
In one instance early in the second set, the ball was set for a potential Red Devil kill attempt, only nobody was there to try. The ball agonizingly and silently fell to the floor.
Point Cowley.
The Tigers ended the second set wth a 15-4 run, then opened a 23-14 lead in the third.
The Red Devils put together their most impresseive spurt of the evening, scoring three straight points from extended rallies, before a service error gave Cowley its 24th point.
“The final point came from a ball-handling error,” Peters said. “I can see losing to these guys, but we didn’t even make them work for it.”
Hayley Mertens led Allen with five kills. Sierra Morgison followed with four kills. Sarah Charbonneau had 19 digs.
The Red Devils’ 19 kills also were indicative of the team’s struggles, Peters said.
“There are matches when Hayley does that by herself,” Peters said. “It wasn’t her night. We had opportunities for other players to step up, and nobody did.”
The Red Devils travel to Chanute Wednesday for a Jayhawk Conference clash that could go a long way to determine which teams qualify for the Region VI playoffs.
Cowley Co. 25-25-25
Allen 14-12-18
Allen County results: Danielle Goodman, 1 kill, 1 set assist, 3 digs, 1 point; Sierra Morgison 4 kills, 5 digs, 4 points; Keith, 3 kills, 1 ace, 1 dig, 1 block assist, 4.5 points; Adriee Munoz, 3 set assists, 9 digs; Sarah Charbonneau, 19 digs; Jacqui Ortiz, 1 kill, 6 set assists, 10 digs, 1 point; Cheyanne Miller, 1 set assist, 2 digs; Hayley Mertens, 5 kills, 6 digs, 1 block assist, 5.5 points; Randi Billings, 3 kills, 1 solo block, 1 block assist, 4.5 points; Autumn Douglas 2 kills, 1 set assist, 4 digs, 1 solo block, 1 block assist, 3.5 points.
Red Devils plagued by errors in loss to Cowley
