Cloverdale volleyball wins its home opener against Cascade

Kimmy Winders of Cloverdale serves to her opponents during Thursday's win. She ended the match with seven aces. (Banner Graphic/JOHNATHON GOODE)

CLOVERDALE--The Cloverdale Clovers' volleyball team opened up its home and conference schedule Thursday night with a sweep of the Cascade Cadets.

"I am ever so proud of my girls tonight," Clovers' coach Kathy Moore said. "They've been working so hard. They played in the summer league in Plainfield. We scrimmaged Bloomfield last week and we were just hitting the heck out of the ball. Tonight it was just a continuation and they were surprising themselves."

The Clovers won all three sets 25-15, 26-24 and 25-18. The closest set was in the second, which Cloverdale gave up two points to tie with the Cadets at 24. Cloverdale took the next two points for the win.

"This is everything," Moore said. "This is a confidence booster. Cascade has always been a hurdle the first week of the season. For years they always dominated, but we come through the last couple of times."

Moore thinks that the passing was better Thursday. After losing three major contributions to graduation, Rebekah Jordan, Lindsay Robson and Megan Helterbrand, passing has been a sizeable emphasis.

"Our passing was much improved on where it had been," Moore said. "It's been a point of emphasis because I lost a lot of my passers to graduation. We're just trying to have a balanced attack and tonight we passed really well."

Sophomore Kimmy Winders had 19 total points including seven aces. Her older sister Jessica, had 20 assists.

The pressure started early and the Clovers forced the Cadets to call a timeout with a 6-4 lead in the first set. After rolling off five straight points later in the set the Cadets were forced to take another timeout.

The Clovers had a big finish to their night ringing off the last 10 points.

Cascade had really good setters, who liked to graze the ball off the net. This forced the ball into awkward positions and directions, but the Clovers, for the most part, acted calmly and prevailed.

"It's hard to play," Moore said. "Sometimes you just can't react quick enough. Their setters are really good at dumping the ball. They got us several times. I had warned the players before hand. They picked it up and were able to come through."

The Clovers had a rough start this season against Danville, being swept in all three sets, but the competition was valued and it showed against Cascade.

"It just makes us better," Moore said. "If you ever really want to go somewhere you have to see adversity. We have a really tough sectional. The more you play a better team, the better you get."

The Clovers' next match is Monday at South Vermillion. They also have two home meets that week, one on Tuesday and Thursday. After that Coach Moore looks forward to a three- day weekend.

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