The California Pintos volleyball team (8-4) defeated the Capital City Cavaliers (0-11-1) in two sets, 25-20 and 25-15, on Sept. 22 during the Pintos’ Senior Night.
The Pintos never trailed in the game. Playing with a lead for the whole game can be a good thing but also a little frustrating, Pintos head coach Julie Bailey said.
“Sometimes I think, when we are ahead, we don’t play as hard as we do when we are behind, so it is a little frustrating,” Bailey said. “Of course, it is nice to be ahead in a game and have a little bit of leeway, but I feel like we kind of sat back on our heels when we have a lead instead of just putting the game away and playing up to our abilities. Sometimes, it is frustrating to watch as a coach to know that they are not playing where they can.”
In the first set, California jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Capital City then won three of the next four points to make it 6-3. The Pintos responded with a 6-3 run to extend the lead to 12-6. After that, the two teams exchanged points for most of the middle part of the set, and the Pintos found themselves up 21-14. The Cavaliers cut into the lead as they made it a four point game by winning four of the next five points to make it a 22-18 game, but the Pintos would go on to win the set while up 24-20 after a kill by Lauren Friedrich.
The Pintos opened the second set by taking a 1-0 lead after a block by Ella Lewis. For most of the second set, it was close early on, as California was out in front 8-5. The Pintos then went on a 5-1 run to make it 13-6 before eventually making it a 16-8 game. Capital City got the lead down to six points twice in the set at 17-11 and at 18-12, but California went on a 5-0 run to extend its lead even further to 23-12. The Pintos won the set and the game after the Cavaliers attempted to block a shot by Friedrich but were unable to get the ball over the net.
Throughout the match, there were several long points that California was able to win. Bailey said winning those long points helps the team a lot.
“I am glad to see our girls working hard,” Bailey said. “I would like to see us put the ball away a little bit more. Lauren Friedrich was doing a great job of putting it away today, and I would like to see our other girls hit as hard as they can.”
Serving was a strong point for the Pintos in the game, as they missed only six serves. There were three missed serves in the first set and three in the second set. Bailey said the team knows it is important to get the serves in.
“Well, they run when we miss (a serve) in practice and after games, so they know it is important,” Bailey said. “My philosophy is that we don’t need to give (opponents) points off serves, so we don’t try to serve an ace every time; our goal is to get it in and they know that is our philosophy and they don’t like to run.”
The team’s next game is Oct. 3 at the Warrensburg Tournament.