Clovers show improvements but still lose to Wildcats

Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Cloverdale junior Jess Winders (7) sets the ball for teammate Lexi Branneman during the second game against South Vermillion on Monday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale volleyball team is still searching for a way to close out games. The team opened up a two-set lead against visiting South Vermillion, then watched it quickly dissolve in a five set loss on Monday.

The Wildcats rallied to secure the 11-25, 21-25, 25-14, 27-25, 15-8 victory.

"We were a little more offensive tonight, so that's coming," CHS coach Kath Moore said. "We're a scrappy team. The first two sets I thought we played really well. In the third set we got ourselves in a hole and we just never could get out of it."

Cloverdale's fast start was a big sign of improvement, but the team didn't keep its edge. CHS got behind 9-6 early in set three, then the Wildcats began to pile on. Senior Brooke Harvey took over at serve with the score 15-11 and ran off seven straight points, burying the Clovers momentum.

"(Harvey) did a really good job of attacking us," Moore said. "She's a really good player."

CHS started slowly in the fourth set but came back when Lindsay Robson took over at serve down 18-16. She helped Cloverdale to five straight points, including back-to-back aces, but SVHS sophomore Ariel Spivey got the Wildcats right back into the match with three points of her own, eventually leading to a 27-25 win.

By the fifth set the Clovers were sitting back instead of attacking and failed to get any footing.

Moore was pleased with some of the Clovers' improvements, but said the team has a long way to go.

"We've got to learn to decrease some of our mental errors that we're making and I think we're going to get there," she said. "I know the kids are disappointed. I'm disappointed."

Jess Winders and Adri Patterson had the best offensive days for Cloverdale. Winders had 29 set assists, three kills and three aces. Patterson had nine points, nine kills, three aces and the teams only block.

Beka Jordan and Lexi Branneman both had eight kills. Robson led the team with 21 digs.

On Tuesday CHS played at Clay City.

The Clovers will look to get into the win column on Thursday when they travel to West Vigo at 7:30 p.m.



At Cloverdale
South Vermillion.......11 21 25 27 15
Cloverdale................25 25 14 25 8

Individual stats
Cloverdale
Point-Ace: Helterbrand 1-0; Robson 7-2; Stevens 3-0; K Winders 6-0; Jordan 4-0; J Winders 10-3; Patterson 9-3
Kills: Helterbrand 3; Stevens 4; K Winders 3; Jordan 8; J Winders 3; Branneman 8; Patterson 9; Nees 1
Assists: J Winders 29
Digs: Helterbrand 9; Robson 21; Stevens 3; K Winders 9; Jordan 6; J Winders 4; Branneman 1; Patterson 6; Nees 1
Block: Patterson 1

JV score
South Vermillion........25 25
Cloverdale.................11 21

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