LAUREL HILL — By the time the start of the District 1-1A volleyball tournament rolls around on Oct. 19 Laurel Hill School’s volleyball freshmen should have grown up a little.
Three of the nine players on the Hobo roster are in their first year of high school. Two of those freshmen; Kylee Seymour and Micah McVay start. The other six members on the Laurel Hill roster are juniors.
The youth of the Hoboes was on display Thursday night when Laurel Hill hosted Jay in their District 1-1A opener. Laurel Hill spotted Jay two sets and then tried to overcome a deficit even the most veteran of teams would find difficult.
In the end the Royals won the match 3-1 by scores of 25-15, 25-15, 18-25, 26-24.
“We showed our age tonight not having any seniors on the team and starting two freshmen,” Hobo Coach Kent Zessin said. “We definitely showed our age. It’s a molding process right now where we are trying to find leadership on the court and off the court.
“We just need a few players to step up right now and take that role. It’s tough not having seniors.”
In the early going the Hoboes couldn’t find a way to stop Royal outside hitter Carissa Mulford. Mulford was a force at the net pounding home a half dozen kills and blocking almost an equal number of Hobo attempts for kills.
But the momentum started to change in the third set when the Hoboes (2-1, 0-1) started to rally.
With Rachel Welsh in serve Laurel Hill jumped to a quick 3-0 lead and never trailed in the set. Every time Jay closed the gap the Hoboes came up with a big play.
Kaylyn McLaney and Kaylee L’Homme played strong a the net countering Jay’s advantage in Mulford.
Jay took a quick 5-1 lead in the fourth set and seemed ready to cruise in for the win, but a stubborn Hobo squad was determined to defend its home court.
Laurel Hill fought back and finally tied the score at 22-22, 23-23 and 24-24 before the Royals were able to score the final two points needed to win the set and the match.
“Our main goal is to get better every night and learn from our mistakes,” Zessin said. “They are going to be fine. They are very smart and they work well together.
“It’s just missing that one piece in the leadership role right now and that’s going to come in time. If we had come out and played the way we know how to play the first two sets I think it might have been a different outcome.”
Jay 3, Laurel Hill 1.
Scores: 25-15, 25-16. 18-25, 26-24
Laurel Hill performers: Bailey Stokes 1 ace, 4 assists, 7 digs; Micah McVay 11 assists, 1 dig; Kaylyn McLaney 2 aces, 4 blocks, 4 digs, 6 kills; Laure Mitchell 1 ace; Rachel Welsh 2 aces, 2 kills; Kylee Seymour 5 block, 5 kills; Kaylee L’Homme 5 blocks, 10 kills.
Laurel Hill stats
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill volleyball team drops district opener