Team effort gives Mineola ladies 3-game sweep of Grand Saline

Posted 9/1/22

There was something different about this Lady Jacket volleyball side. Mineola has had some competitive volleyball teams in the past few years, but there was always something missing – the …

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Team effort gives Mineola ladies 3-game sweep of Grand Saline

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There was something different about this Lady Jacket volleyball side. Mineola has had some competitive volleyball teams in the past few years, but there was always something missing – the ability to stop a bad spell of play by making changes in-situ.

If Tuesday’s match against Grand Saline is any indicator, the 2022 Lady Jackets are well on their way to correcting this systemic issue. In a straight set win over the Lady Indians (25-11, 26-24, 25-23), there were numerous times in games two and three when Grand Saline seemed to turn the momentum and begin to rally. 

The Lady Jackets made whatever in-game adjustments necessary to ensure they never gave up that game-turning rally.  

There was no single change or tactic which reversed the fortunes of play in Mineola’s favor, but change it did, restoring the momentum, or at least erasing any hopes of a long run by the opposition. 

Three instances were clear to those in attendance: the service of Paris Spigner seemed to calm the Lady Jackets; when really in need of a score, the team found Olivia Hughes on the right wing; and the experience of Jocelyn Whitehead contributed timely drop shots late for critical points.

Mineola started with a decisive win in game one. They built a 10-6 lead behind two Spigner service aces, two emphatic blocks (by Mylee Fischer and Kyra Jackson) and a Whitehead kill. A consistent attack and an attentive defense built the lead to 20-10. Hughes sealed the first match with a drop shot and a kill.

After Mineola took a 5-1 lead in the second game, Grand Saline righted their ship. The Lady Indians stormed back to take a 15-13 lead. At least three times in the middle reaches of this game, the Lady Indians were on the verge of surging ahead. Each time, the Lady Jackets were able to reverse the flow of play. In this game it was kills by Gracie Finley, Hughes and Fischer and an ace by Kloey Garcia.

Mineola’s composure in the final points won game two.

Grand Saline put the Lady Jackets on their heels in the first half of the third game. Mineola trailed 2-8, and had to fight back to even the score at 12 apiece. Once the teams were tied at the midway mark, it was a tight, well-played game to the end. The game was tied five times, the last time at 23-23 when Hughes crushed a kill from the left wing.

The Lady Jackets prevailed in a well-deserved three-game sweep.

The next opportunity to see the Lady Jackets at home will be Tuesday, Sept. 6 when they host Athens. Varsity game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.