Another conference game is checked off the schedule. Unfortunately, it wasn't how the Shamrocks had planned it to go. The New Haven Shamrocks took on the Sullivan
Eagles October 17 on their home floor.
The Shamrocks’ defense started off slow with missed passes and serving errors. The girls came around mid-set, making Sullivan adjust to their hits off the net and their back row attacks. Lauren Hoerstkamp, New Haven’s senior libero, had four kills from the back row. McKenzie Pecaut, the Shamrocks’ senior setter, led the night in assist and attacks.
McKenzie Pecaut was asked about what her thoughts were on the first set of the night, and she commented, “I thought the beginning of that first set was slow and we played like we were just a few steps behind, and that wasn’t good. When the Eagles got to their 13th point, I feel that is when we started playing with our heads in the game.”
Ellie Westermeyer also mentioned, “We weren’t playing with a lot of energy and I think that is what started us off on the wrong foot. Volleyball isn’t just a physical game, but a mental one as well.”
New Haven lost the first set 25-13.
In the second set, the Shamrocks came out stronger and faster. Sullivan’s senior, an outside hitter, was pounding balls at our passers in the back row, and New Haven’s defense was able to pick most of them up. The Shamrocks putting up a big block in the middle stopped a lot of the balls getting through. The score was tied 7-7 when New Haven started lagging behind Sullivan again. Sullivan went on a run with serving, having the balls come in hard and fast, giving the Shamrocks difficult balls to pass. Most balls were tight to the net or passed off to the side. New Haven ended up losing the second set 25-12.
McKenzie Overschmidt commented, “I think our passing is definitely improving each game. We often don’t face schools that have many power hitters, and tonight, there were many. Getting to compete with bigger schools and bigger players will help us in the long run, and hopefully has us prepared for districts in the coming week.”
New Haven will begin their district tournament at Montgomery on Monday, October 28th.
Good luck, Shamrocks!