HIGHLAND — Not a strong showing on the road for Allen County Community College’s Red Devil volleyball team. The Red Devils lost to host Highland Community College’s Scotties Wednesday.
The Scotties defeated the Red Devils 26-24, 23-25, 25-17, 25-20. The loss dropped the Red Devils to 2-2 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play and 8-11 overall.
“This was not the volleyball that Allen has shown to be effective in. Rather we showed a series of mistakes,” said Jessica Peters, ACCC head coach.
No time to dwell on those mistakes for Allen County. The Red Devils go right back to work on their home court today.
Allen County is hosting a four-team round-robin tournament. Neosho County, Friends University’s junior varsity and Fort Scott come to Iola.
Action begins at 9 this morning with Allen County playing Neosho County. The Red Devils play Friends JV at noon then conclude action at 4:30 against Fort Scott.
“We will have opportunities this weekend to find the chemistry again at our home tournament,” Peters said.
Against Highland, Peters said the Red Devils kept the Scotties within reach in the first set. Down 24-16, the Red Devils got a lift from Alli Jenicke’s serving. Jenicke got her team even at 24-all before losing 26-24.
“That gave us momentum going into set two. Hayley Mertens had a very successful night making herself a go-to option any time we needed someone to put the ball away,” Peters said.
Peters pointed out it takes more than one ‘on’ player to win a set. Allen County had trouble staying ‘on’ as a team after a short break from the action. The Red Devils lost the next two sets.
Mertens delivered 14 kills at the net along with two solo blocks and two assisted blocks. Jenicke had 12 kills and Makhala Giardina put down five kills.
Jacqui Ortiz was credited with 15 set assists and Sabrina Stanley had 11 assists. Mertens served three aces.
Jordyne Seichepine had four kills, one solo block and two assisted blocks. Randi Billings had three assisted blocks.
Ortiz came up with 20 defensive digs and Mertens had 19 digs. Nicole Reed and Jenicke each made 17 digs. Stanley had 13 digs.
Devils lose at Highland, ready for own tourney
