At an important time, when the game was tied against Greenville, libero Avery Blanchard had a dig that led to a crucial set by setter Zoe Jordan, for it was followed by a kill by outside Kylin Roelfzema. The Rangers ended up winning the first set 25-17 but were brought short in which the Rangers lost the next two. The Rangers ultimately lost 2-1 in 3 sets.
FHC was on a one-game win streak and ready to add to it. Rangers middle Addison McConnell thought they had a good plan.
“Going into the game, we were really just looking to play as a team,” Addison said. “We weren’t going to let the small mistakes get the best of us.”
The first set started off hot by the Rangers in which they scored two straight points looking like they were going to steamroll through the Yellowjackets. Greenville proceeded to attack back keeping the game close to start. It was tied 4-4. Adrenaline started pumping for FHC. They scored eight straight leading 12-4. Greenville shot back after breaking up the long run, for they scored two more attempting to bring the deficit back to winning potential. A rally was strung together from both sides until a set by Jordan united with Roelfzema.
The lead was out of reach for the Jackets.
The Rangers dismantled Greenville during set one in which they won 25-17 never losing the lead; the Rangers played spectacularly. Coach Morgan Fitch loved the teamwork.
“Everyone was playing as a team, not individuals,” Fitch said. “They were working together the entire match which makes a world of a difference.”
When the second set came to a start, it started slow for both sides, the teams alternated scoring back and forth. The Rangers shot straight 5 leading leading 5-2. Then, the Jackets fired back 5 more, showing 5-7. Greenville did not lose the lead from there, but the game became close when right-side Bea Goodstal tied the game back up by a spike. The game was tied 9-9. FHC kept fighting, yet the Jackets would not lose grip. The Rangers lost the second 17-25. During the set communication and errors played a big role in FHC losing. Fitch thought the team struggled during this section.
“Once we got down a few points, people got timid,” Fitch said. “ People started getting into their head, therefore people started playing as individuals.”
Once the third set began, the Rangers were not looking to be pushed over. Addison has high hopes for the future.
“The second set the energy was down,” McConnell said. “ We just hope those mistakes will not make us go downhill from here.”
Moving along into the third set, The Yellowjackets went on a 6-point run after losing the first point to FHC. The Rangers began to claw back when they scored 3 more making the score 4-6. That was the closest it got. FHC let up 5 straight causing the lead to grow 11-4. The Rangers lost 15-7 in the third set.
Despite the loss, some positives came out of it. Rangers outside Katie Probst loved the first set.
“During the match, we had some really good plays and runs,” Katie said. ‘The first set we were executing and communicated very well.”
With only a few games left in the season, the Rangers are looking to put this loss behind them and work on things moving forward.
“We still need to work on our communication which we struggle with,” Katie said. “We just need to start trusting each other which will lead us to work better as a team.”
