The Mineola Lady Jackets were outmatched by the visiting Harmony Lady Eagles last Tuesday, dropping straight sets, 25–18, 25–21, 25–17.

Mineola dug an early hole, unable to get the ball back over the net in the first few points, surrendering a quick eight points.

A block by Jadelyn Marshall and a winner by Olivia Hughes steadied the ship and gave the ball to Mahayla McMahon to serve. A kill by McMahon and blocks by McMahon and Hughes helped close the margin to 11–7 on six straight McMahon serves.

Another Harmony eight-point run ensued, pushing it to 20–8.

Six consecutive Carmen Carrasco serves contributed to a fighting chance, but the opening set was out of reach.

When executing, the Lady Jackets showed the skill to play to the Lady Eagles’ level, but was not maintaining it at the same clip. Harmony simply played cleaner volleyball, committing fewer errors, allowing them to capitalize on the most opportunities.

The second set was the most closely contested.

Trailing 10–5, some solid serves from Macy Fischer paired with a couple winners hit by McMahon closed the margin to one, eliciting the lone Lady Eagle timeout of the evening.

Harmony scored the next five points, but timely swings from Marshall and McMahon and nice net work from Hughes kept them within three points.

Mineola fended off five set points, taking advantage of some erroneous Lady Eagle play, but came up four shy.

Holding serve proved difficult in the third, with Harmony’s only run of more than three points coming at 6–5, pushing their lead to 11–5. Then came the Lady Jackets’ best run of three points, when Gracie Lindley scored an ace.

Mineola began the second half of district play Tuesday, hosting Mt. Vernon, and will travel up Hwy. 37 Friday to Quitman.