Volleyball Spikes Zalma

Freshman Jessie Long with a block
during the 2nd set of last night's match

The Oran High School volleyball team made it a clean sweep last night by defeating the Zalma Bulldogs.

The junior varsity ended a three-game losing streak by defeating the Bulldogs in straight sets, 25-18 and 25-21 to improve their record to 3-5.

Coach Monica Collier had this to say, “Both teams did well tonight.  JV won in 2 sets .  They started out kind of slow, but was able to come down together, move well, and communicate to pull out their 3^rd win of the season."

The varsity now has a three-game winning streak, but it didn't come easy.

The Eagles won in three sets (15-25, 27-25 and 25-20).

Oran was completely out played during the first set and half-way through the second.  With the Eagles trailing by as many as six points late (19-13) before mounting a comeback.

Coach Collier said, "Varsity also started out rough.  They were not moving very fast and not communicating, and Zalma came out ready to play hard.  They easily won the first set 15-25.  The second set started out similar with them getting 3 points right off the bat.  Then we came back and for quite a while, it was a back and forth game.  Oran finally got some determination, and we were able to win 27-25."

The third set looked like it was going to be a cake walk for the Eagles as they jumped out to a quick

Cheyanne Dobbs serves
during the 3rd set.

lead.  Zalma took it's first time out with the score 7-1 and their second at 17-5.  When Oran came out of that last Bulldog time out it appeared that the Eagle players were already celebrating a victory that had not yet occurred.

From that point on Zalma began its comeback and out-scored the home team 15-8 the rest of the way, but it wasn't enough.

Oran took a time out with the score 22-12 and then hung on for the 25-20 victory.

Said Coach Collier, "The third set, the Oran girls were fired up and ready to dominate, and they did for quite a while.  We got to 22-8.  Unfortunately, the girls got comfortable and Zalma was not done playing.  They came back with 6 points in a row.  We missed our serve, and they came back again with 5 more.  We missed our serve again, and allowed them one more.  With their last error, we won the set 25-20.  Overall I am proud of the girls.  We are working on being more consistent and pushing through to the end.”

Cheyanne Dobbs had 2 aces and 3 kills while Kaitlyn Wittu added an ace and kill for an Eagle team that improved to 6-7.

Jessie Long dominated at the net, especially in the final set with 8 kills and got lots of help from Brianna Stause who had 4.  Kenzie Graviett also had 2 kills.

Both teams will back in action tonight, starting at 6 pm, when they host conference foe, class 4 Sikeston.