Russia’s Hazel Francis snaps a kill across the net during the second set in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Anna. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Not at their best a night after beating #1-ranked Coldwater, Russia held on to play well in spurts and knock off Anna for a second time…in three sets!
Russia, OH – Russia coach Aaron Watkins and senior Hazel Francis admitted that Tursday’s 3-0 Shelby County League win over the Anna Rockets wasn’t their best volleyball, and lacked focus at times.
“But a win is a win, is a win,” smiled Watkins later.
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“It’s hard to play that well two nights in a row,” he added, referring to Monday’s shocking four-set win over Division V #1-ranked Coldwatter. “But this also makes six games for us in as many days (all wins), and that’s a lot for high school volleyball.”
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Nonetheless, the 17-3 (9-1 in SCL play) Raiders figured out a way, winning 25-22, 25-17, and 25-19 over Kelli Zumberger’s 10-9 (6-4) Rockets, who had their own moments of focus and hiccups, but refused to give in to Russia, playing for the season sweep. Russia previously won in straight sets on September 10.
For instance, Anna found themselves down twice by six points in the first set before taking advantage of a Russia swoon at 22-20. The Rockets tied the game at 22-22 before Russia righted the ship and Celeste Borchers served the winning point, 25-22.
In the second set Russia came out in a daze, fell behind 6-1 and Watkins was forced to call a timeout…reminding them no doubt that they had just beaten the state’s #1 the night before, and hadn’t played this poorly.
Anna’s Palynn Hoying extends a point for the Rockets with an assist in the second set.
Russia responded with an 8-0 run, took the lead 8-7, and never looked back. The rode a 15-6 run to an eventual 25-17 win behind the hitting of Borchers and Hazel Francis…and seemed to find a stride.
“It was hard to come out tonight with the same energy and the same level of play,” said Francis. “We tried our best, but that’s hard to do two nights in a row. We’d get up five points and then we’d lose focus. When you lose focus the energy part comes in that kinda’ hurt us a bit. The hitting errors we had tonight we didn’t have last night, and that’s a mental thing. Last night we limited those errors and we were definitely a different team.”
Again in the third set Anna pushed their buttons, taking advantage of lapses in concentration and sloppy hitting to overcome early deficits and close to within two points at 20-18. Watkins again called a timeout and reminded them again…to find a rhythm and hit the ball. “Finish the match.”
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Again the Raiders responded, playing the final five points of the match as well as anyone could play, winning 25-19.
“Anna’s a very well-coached team, disciplined and scrappy, so to beat that team in three sets, irregardless of scores, we’re going to take it after a stretch like the past week,” said Watkins. “To come off the high like we had last night and win again tonight. They’ve improved a ton since we last played them. They’re better in a lot of areas and they pushed us. So all we can do is come back to practice tomorrow and refocus.”
Watkins’ is a good point about six games and six days. Fatigue is always a factor of concern with adolescent athletes. And one that must concern coaches when one lapse at the wrong time against the wrong opponent can cost you your season’s goals.
“Yes, but from here to the end we’ve got some time between matches and time to prep and get some rest,” Watkins added. “I’m confident in the girls and how we’ll move forward.”
And cleanup of the hitting errors, the focus issues, the fundamental things like footwork and the ever-present concern over serve-receive – that first touch of the ball that’s so important in putting teams in the right rhythm to score with efficiency. And like the final five points of the final set, when Russia does those things they’re good enough, obviously, to beat anyone they’re apt to meet, moving forward.
“What are we doing out here?”….or words to that effect from Russia coach Aaron Watkins during a lapse in Tuesday’s match.
“The game speeds up,” says Watkins. “And the fundamentals, like footwork and serve-receive, need to speed up, too. And your focus on certain things changes, too. We try to focus on being an aggressive-hitting team – risk and reward – and there are going to be more hitting errors. I’m going to be OK with that knowing that in the big picture we’re going to get more aggressive swings and more scores.”
But first, rest, and a couple days off from competition before playing Fairlawn on Thursday.
“I think we’re a pretty good team,” Hazel Francis reiterated, hitting errors notwithstanding.
“And we have to stay humble. We have a lot more games to play.”
She can say that. Six games and six wins in six days is a hefty load.
And proof they can do it!
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