DHS women’s volleyball falls to Franklin in five
DHS volleyball seniors Jordan Kelley and Julia Rodman looked on from the bench as a Franklin’s Brionna Thompson spikes a ball down on the DHS side, skidding past two defenders to put the Franklin Wildcats up by a score of 19-17 in game two.
The Wildcats and Blue Devils played a five game match, on Oct. 17 at 6:00 pm at DHS. Franklin won the fifth set by a score of 15-8 to emerge as the victors.
DHS was down two games to none in this five game contest, but showed resilience in games three and four to force a final game to 15 points.
“I thought we showed a lot of heart and drive coming back from two games to none,” DHS coach Julie Crawford said. “I really don’t think that we started playing our game till the third game though. It’s like we didn’t even show up for the first two.”
Hurt by injuries to senior starters Kelley and Rodman, younger players have had to step up and fill the void, said Crawford.
“I’m very proud of the way they’ve stepped up,” Crawford said “everyone is trained the same way here, and I can count on my subs that they can step in and fit the roles”
DHS dropped the first two games by scores of 22-25, and 25-20. They then were trailing in the third game until a lengthy rally resulted in a DHS point. This appeared to give DHS a little momentum as they went on a three-point run to tie the game at 21, thanks to a spike by Alyssa Crary.
A spike by sophomore Madison Whitehead clenched game three with DHS on top 25-22, forcing another game. After trading points for most of the fourth game, DHS pulled away with two consecutive spikes by junior Angelina Leigh to put DHS on top 26-25, who also had the put back over the net that clenched the game at 28-26 in DHS’ favor.
The DHS girls ended up falling in the last game 15-8 at the hands of multiple spikes by Franklin players Thompson and Cassidy Johnson, and overpowering close-net play by the Franklin blockers as well.
Another contributing factor the DHS lapse in game five was miscommunication between players on who should take the ball.
“I think that we beat ourselves as far as those [unforced errors] go,” Crawford said after the game, “we’re just not quite there yet.”
With two seniors out of the starting lineup, DHS has faced some adversity, but is anticipating the return of Kelley as soon as this weekend for their tournament.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Crawford said, “we might rest her on Wednesday and give her a couple of more days. Coming back from an ankle injury and trying to get your head right is really tough so we’ll just see how it goes.”
DHS women’s volleyball has a chance to bounce back in a league game Wednesday Oct. 19 at home against Grant. Kelley says she intends to practice the rest of the week and can hopefully help her team as early as Wednesday, but most likely will return to games by the weekend.
“I can’t want it for them,” Crawford later said, “they have to want it more than the other team.”
