Reversing course is the focus this week for the Yuma High School volleyball team.
Yuma opens Lower Platte play today, September 14, at home against the Akron Rams. It is its only match this week.
The Yuma Volleyball Team is 4-4 overall, after beating Akron in three sets, but lost three of its last four matches after a 2-1 start.
“I don’t really have an answer, I wish I did,” coach Jamie Robinson said. “We are just right there on the cusp, luckily it is still early in the season.”
Yuma stands a fighting chance to get back on the winning track as Akron entered this week with a 0-5 record, and has not played since September 5.
The YVT hosted Brush last Friday night for an entertaining five-set match. Unfortunately, they came out on the wrong end of the final score, 25-13, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 14-16.
Every time it seemed like Yuma would pull away for the match win, it just turned into Brush’s favor as the Beetdiggers kept making critical plays.
Yuma dominated the first set, leading 9-2 before pushing it out to a 23-11 lead before closing out the 12-point win.
Any thoughts of a Yuma sweep by the faithful quickly were squelched in the second set. Yuma led 7-4, but Brush then took over rallying for a 19-14 lead. Yuma never could get closer three the rest of the way.
The former Indians regained control in the third set, racing out to an 8-2 lead. Brush battled back to to tie it at 11-11, but Yuma scored six of the next eight points for a 17-12 lead and held on from there.
It was looking like Yuma might get the win in four, leading 12-6. Brush, though, came back to tie it at 12. The teams were tied five more times, the last at 18, but the Beetdiggers pulled away to force a deciding fifth set.
It was Yuma’s fifth set already this season. The Yuma girls have started out slow each time, though they have won one. Brush scored the first three points. Yuma came back to tie, but then the Beetdiggers pulled out to a 5-10 lead. Yuma, though, would not buckle, battling all the way back for a 12-11 lead.
Brush, however, scored the next three points for a 14-12 lead. Yuma came back to tie it at 14, forcing extra points, but Brush got the last two to escape town with the win.
“We are not going to have an easy season to get to regionals, so we are going to have to start getting some wins in the column,” Robinson said.
Jailyn Mekelburg had 11 kills, Caddis Robinson 10, Bailey Nighswonger nine, Alina Moran seven, Lauren Gonzales four and Emma Rayl three. Rayl recorded 24 setting assists, Robinson eight, Nighswonger five and Gonzales three. Mekelburg was 21-22 serving with four aces, Rayl 17-17 with one ace, Nighswonger 15-16 with two aces, Robinson 13-14 with one ace, Moran 12-14 with two aces, Gonzales 12-14 and Chloe Smith 8-8.
All Yuma can do is keep plugging along and find that extra edge to get over the top.
“I guess it is my job to help keep the team motivated and getting better, and hope for the best,” Robinson said. “All four of our teams are like this, so I have to take a look at myself and try to fix something.”
Look for more on the Akron match in next week’s print edition.
