LAUREL HILL — Defending District 1-1A volleyball champion Laurel Hill opened district play in impressive style against Central on Tuesday.
Powered by Bridget Zessin’s 10-kill, 4-ace effort the Hoboes rolled to a straight set win 25-7, 25-20, 25-15.
Central at Laurel Hill volleyball photos>>>
Laurel Hill coach Kent Zessin, Bridget’s dad, was especially pleased with the way the team opened the match, but he did see room for improvement.
“I thought the first game was probably one of the best games we’ve played thus far,” he said. “We got away from our hits there in the second and third game. We weren’t attacking the net or hitting our serves nearly like we were in the first game.
“That is a tough opponent. They are going to battle no matter what the score is. We’ve just got to learn not to let down.”
The Jaguars led 2-0 early in the first set. But a serving error followed by Zessin’s first kill of the match tied the set at 2-2. When a Central player was guilty of a net violation the Hoboes (8-3, 1-0) took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in the first frame.
The closest Central would get the rest of the set was at 6-3 as the Jaguars were hit hard by their own mistakes and a precise Hobo attack.
Service points by Morgan Meeks and Rachel Welch along with Zessin’s strong play proved to be the difference in the set.
Welch was in serve as the Hoboes opened an early 3-0 lead in the second set. Laurel Hill never trailed in the set and stretched the lead to 11-4 before Central came fighting back.
The Jaguars trailed 22-20 when they misplayed three straight points as the Hoboes took the second set.
The third set was tied 11-11 when the Hoboes took control of things.
An ace by Welch helped spark the 14-4 Laurel Hill run that ended the match.
With Meeks in serve the Hoboes scored the last six points of the night, three of which came on aces, to close out the win.
Meeks finished the match with six aces and seven assists. Welch had two aces, two digs and a kill. Ashley Hatfield and Olivia Stewart also had two digs each.
The Hoboes play at Rocky Bayou Christian on Thursday.
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hoboes thump Jaguars (Photos)