Douglas High School's Emma Glover makes a diving dig in the third set to save a point for the Tigers. Glover had eight digs in the Tigers' four-set loss to Galena.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Only a couple weeks into the season, the Douglas High volleyball team has already run into Galena twice.
Both contests have been intensely close, with the Grizzlies escaping on top in both.
Tuesday night, Galena snuck out of Minden with a 3-1 by scores of 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 26-24.
“It’s just pushing through,” said Douglas head coach Suzi Townsell. “I guess it’s a confidence thing we just have to work on.”
Townsell was specifically referring to the third set, in which the Tigers led 20-14 after a diving save from setter/defensive specialst Emma Glover.
Glover’s dig underneath the net put the Tigers up 19-14 before Mia Bertolone put away a touch kill.
The two-point run came on the back end of a Grizzly timeout, but Galena didn’t need to burn another one, taking eight of the next 10 points to tie the set at 22-all.
Addy Doerr put away a kill to give Douglas a 23-22 edge, but Galena took the next three points.
Grizzly setter Alexis King dumped one of several kills out of reach of the Tigers to tie things at 23 before Ashlyn Cruze posted a cross-court kill to secure the third, 25-23.
The biggest lead for either team in the fourth set was 4-1, in favor of Douglas right out of the gate.
At 20-20, Marin Collins posted one of her two aces on the evening to give the Tigers a small advantage, but Galena had the final say.
Another soft touch over the net from King earned a quick point back in favor of the Grizzlies.
At 24-all, Hannah Schumauder dug out a ball on the way to a kill from Ali Demosthenes before an ace ended the match.
(Marin Collins, left, and Sofia Kolbe go up for a block against Galena Tuesday night. Courtesy: Ron Harpin)
As Galena showed to be the aggressor late in sets with its hitting, Townsell reminded her front line of positive performances from games already this season against strong opposing hitters.“We’re getting there,” said Townsell. “I think it’s just a psychology thing right now.”
The Tigers finished the night with six solo blocks – two from each Bertolone, Collins and Doerr.
Douglas had freshman Summer Williams in at libero, who finished with three assists and eight digs.
“It’s been a long time (since a freshman has started at libero). Summer has been doing a good job,” said Townsell. “As a freshman, she’s been doing some good stuff.”
As close as all four sets were, the Tigers offense found its rhythm plenty.
Bertolone had a team-high 12 kills while middle hitter Chana Rothschild posted eight of her own.
Senior Riley Mello and sophomore Suzy Berger each had seven kills Tuesday night.
UP NEXT: Douglas (2-3) will head to McQueen (2-1) Thursday night as the Lancers are coming off a 3-1 win at Carson Tuesday evening.
