By RYAN WALKER
That dreaded fifth set strikes again.
The Bluffton Tigers narrowly fell to Jay County 3-2 to open conference play Tuesday night at The Tiger Den. The Tigers took the first set, but fell in back-to-back spots in the second and third by scores of 19-25, 12-25.
Final scores from the match were 25-22, 19-25, 12-25, 25-22 and 9-15.
It’s the fourth time in as many tries that the Tigers (2-9, 0-1 ACAC) have fallen short in the fifth set, doing so against Huntington North, Adams Central, Mississinewa and now Jay County.
But after an uncharacteristic middle sets, the Tigers played as well and as inspired as they did all night in the fourth. They got off to a strong start and never looked back, carrying a 25-22 win to the fifth. But, it did not carry over.
In the fifth, Jay County took an 8-5 lead and distanced themselves away to take Game 1 of the ACAC season 15-9.
“We went in waves,” Bluffton head coach Caylee Pyle said. “It was tricky again, and that’s just the thing that we’re still working on — breaking the mentality and learning how to play for your team and not for yourself. We too often internalize our mistakes, and we don’t figure out how to properly manage them and work through them in a game. And it’s such a hard sport for these young girls to understand that I don’t care one mistake after one mistake after one mistake. I want them to look forward and play that next ball.”
With the Tigers falling to 2-9 on the season, it’s a wonder what they could look like if those games went their way. A complete flip-around makes it a 6-5 record. Finding a way to get the young players and the upperclassmen could level the water and show the true potential of the team.
Last year, a larger senior class fell 3-0 to the Patriots. That Tigers’ team went 11-20, a better pace than this current team’s.
Pyle has seen the improvement between the one year’s difference between taking Jay County from three sets to five, and there is room to reach a higher level with this current unit.
“Our passing, I still stand by that. Our passing, I think, has increased tenfold,” Pyle said. “We are now making better defensive plays. We are reading the ball a little bit better, and some of that comes from our block.”
“When they add that unnecessary pressure, that’s when we when we really hit our speed bumps,” Pyle said. “We want to win, obviously we want to win, but I also want them to grow and develop, because when they grow and develop, then the wins will come.”
Bluffton will host South Adams at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12.
Stat leaders: Maryn Schreiber 19 kills, Isla Gibson 33 assists and two aces, Marly Drayer 34 digs and Alexandria Koby five blocks.
Bluffton won the junior varsity match 2-1 (25-13, 23-25 and 15-7).
Stat leaders: Bridgett Steffen seven kills, Kamryn Ault 12 assists, Ava Trexler nine aces, Jaida Mills 11 digs and Steffen two blocks.
ryan@news-banner.com
