Mineola was hoping for a tune-up before the start of the volleyball post-season when they hosted Chapel Hill last Tuesday. They ended up falling to the Red Devils 25-16, 22-25, 21-25, 20-25.

There was, however, much which they could take to their bi-district match against Atlanta. 

Most notably, the movement and energy the team demonstrated in the first set carried them to a decisive win.

Despite some initial nerves, the Lady Jackets tied the set at 8-8, before embarking on a 7-point rally under the service turn of lone senior Macy Fischer. A strong block by Kali Chrietzberg ended the first set.

Some great defensive work by Jaycee Maag kept the momentum securely on Mineola’s side early in the second set. It was a kill off a block which shifted the momentum to Chapel Hill with Mineola up 12-8. 

Chapel Hill gathered its poise and began to successfully attack.

The Lady Jackets scrambled effectively to keep the Devils at bay, but that very same scrambling left them out of position defensively, and Chapel Hill capitalized. The visitors held off a late Mineola surge to take the second set. 

Sets three and four were seesaw events, with Chapel Hill tallying more offensive scores. Each set featured some great play by the Lady Jackets – a beautiful drop shot by Kyra Jackson in set three and a strong block by Olivia Hughes in set four, as examples.

Although Mahayla McMahon had her best scoring run in the fourth set, it was not enough to overcome the systematic attack of the Red Devils.