Scott Lockwood
DeeJ Experience, LLC
Location: Freeport, PA
Allison Sawyer Rips a shot during Monday Nights Volleyball Match a Freeport
Match Score: 0-3 Game Scores: 31-29, 25-12, AND 25-18
The Corry volleyball program kicked off the season with a long road trip to the perennial WPIAL powerhouse and played the Freeport Yellowjackets. Corry dropped the first match of the season 3-0 and had a long ride home to think of ways to improve in the next match. After a marathon 31-29 loss in set one, the Beavers kind of collapse and dropped the final two sets 25-12 and 25-18.
The first set was as advertised, with Freeport and Corry exchanging tough serves, long rallies, and big swings. Corry held the early advantage all the way up to 20-19 when Freeports 6-foot 1-inch outside hitter scored a couple of key points and put Freeport up 22-20. The teams traded points and after Freeport went ahead 24-21, Corry called time out. Corry responded with a great serve receive pass right to the setter and senior middle hitter, Sadye Dyne pounded the ball to the floor. With senior setter Payton McCray serving, Corry and Freeport fought for another point with 5 different attacks by both teams before senior right-side hitter, Allison Sawyer scored another point with a big swing. With Freeport just needing one point, Payton McCray went back to the service line and served an ace, and another tough serve caused a Freeport hitting error and Corry was up 25-24. Unfortunately, that was the only set point Corry had, because Freeport tied up the game at 25-25 and took the lead 26-25 on a Corry hitting error. Give the lady beavers credit, they didn’t quit, they fought off four more set points before finally falling behind 31-29 to end the first set.
The toll of the first set carried over into the second set, with Freeport jumping out to an 8-1 and 12-3 lead before Corry started to put things together. Senior middle hitter Aubrey Chase powered a kill through the block to close the gap to 13-7, but Freeport was dialed in during the second set, winning 25-12. “The key to volleyball is serve receive passing and serving tough, and both of those skills showed weaknesses in the second set.
The third set Freeport held an early two-point lead at 6-4 and 8-6. Allison Sawyer had a couple of big swings for kills during the early stretch of the third set. Serve receive and freeball passing weren’t as crisp as the team needed and resulted in easily anticipated defensive plays that Freeport turned into offensive points. Freeport stretched the lead to 19-8 before Corry responded with kills by seniors Aubrey Chase and right-side hitter Emmalee Carr. Corry scored their last point on a kill by senior outside hitter Halle Albers, before Freeport ended the set 25-18 and the match 3-0.
“The Freeport program has been at the top of the WPIAL league District seven for 10 years, either in AA or as this year in AAA classification. We wanted to start the season off with a challenge and we got what we wanted. The quickest way to get better is by playing better competition because it exposes weaknesses that we can now go back into the gym and work on.” Said coach Kelly Goodsel.
Corry was led by 8 seniors. Halle Albers, Emmalee Carr, Aubrey Chase, Sadye Dyne, Payton McCray, Makenna Moore, Allison Sawyer, and Sydney Woods. Three juniors saw action Bailee McCray, Sydney Mineo, and Brynley Watrous. Grace Allen and Haley Mumau represented the sophomore class on the court tonight.
“I thought all the kids played hard tonight, Freeport is a great team and can be very frustrating to play against because they are so fundamentally sound.” Goodsel said.
Makenna Moore and Sydney Woods (libero and defensive specialist) stood out on defense tonight with 20 and 7 digs respectively. Allison Sawyer led the team with eight kills, followed by sophomore Grace Allen with six.
Corry JV also lost their season opener to a tough Freeport team in two straight sets on Monday night. Both sets played out similarly with Corry struggling to pass Freeport serves and consequently had a less effective offense. Freeport served and passed exceptionally well, and their ball control was very good.
“I think we learned a lot about what we need to focus on by playing a top-notch team to open the season. We need to have a different attitude about passing the ball, much more assertive and aggressive.” JV coach Mark Brenner Said. “Good passing starts by reading the serve, calling the ball loudly, and then shuffling feet to put the body in position to pass with a good platform. A team struggling to pass the ball with confidence usually doesn’t get a quick read, doesn’t call the ball loudly, and doesn’t move their feet to put their body in position to pass. Unfortunately, that was us today. Fortunately, we have a lot of potential with this team, and the opportunity for an exciting season. The wins will come, but today the focus is on getting better, learning, and enjoying the process!”
One bright spot came from Lauren Brundage. When she had the chance, Brundage really had some flashes tonight. Rylee Nickerson also showed flashes tonight as did others but ultimately the JV Beavers did drop two straight sets 25-14 and 25-17. They will have to get back to work. There is a long season in front of them with plenty of those learning opportunities to get better on the way.
Both JV and Varsity open the season 0-1 on the year. Varsity will have the opportunity to get back on the court Saturday in the annual Fort LeBoeuf tournament.
