ELDRIDGE — Moving on from some key players who helped lead to significant accomplishments and annual state volleyball trips, the North Scott Lancers have found themselves also adjusting to a new coach this fall.
That transition took another step forward Tuesday with a solid 25-12, 25-19, 25-14 Mississippi Athletic Conference victory over Central DeWitt at The Pit.
The Lancers (13-10, 4-1 MAC) showed that they are going to be contenders this season with a five-set victory over defending Class 5A state champ Pleasant Valley two weeks ago. While facing a couple of bumps in the road, they continue to grow – and firmly plant themselves in the thick of the MAC race with undefeated Davenport Assumption and PV with first-year North Scott coach Brian Schubert at the helm.
Even when teams try to throw different things at them, the Lancers are responding. On Tuesday, the Sabers (9-9, 4-3 MAC) tried as many soft shots as spikes. But the hosts responded – not only with plenty of diving digs from the backcourt of seniors Ainsley Haedt (team-high 10 digs) and Reese Jackson – but with heads-up play from everyone who was on the court in every rotation.
“Our defensive backfield is so deep,” said Schubert. “Those two are good, and we have two or three other girls that we could plug in and play.”
Central DeWitt coach Emily Swanson noted that her team isn’t usually as reliant on the soft approach to the game, but was OK with it against the taller, stronger Lancers.
“We knew that they had a pretty decent block; our girls watched plenty of film, so they knew where their defenders were,” she said. “We tell them all the time that being aggressive as a hitter isn’t always swinging as hard as you can. It’s mixing up your shots, getting roll shots and tipping. We just weren’t able to execute those tonight.”
And when the likes of senior Bri Clark (9 kills) and junior Quinn Schroeder (8 kills) did, the Lancers usually covered the court.
“It took us a second to adjust to it,” said senior hitter Kenzie Moeller of the Sabers’ softer approach. “We communicated well. … After the first set, we picked up on what they were doing and did a really good job executing.”
With the defense on its game and senior Addison Allen dishing out 31 of North Scott’s 44 assists, the front row assault line of Moeller (16 kills), senior Paige Coon (6 kills, 3 blocks) and junior Kamilah Eller (6 kills) was able to go to work against the Sabers’ out-manned front. Senior Adalynn Johnson and junior Sydney Soppe recorded 2 blocks to thwart the Sabers’ attack, which was plagued by numerous errors as well.
“We definitely executed what we’ve been working on since the beginning of the year,” said Schubert. “We minimized our service errors, minimized our hitting errors and found the floor in different ways other than just hammering it. We did a great job of that.”
That, said Schubert, is all part of the process of getting this team acclimated to his system and style.
“This program has had some outstanding players over the last three or four years and still does have some outstanding players,” said the veteran coach, who has worked with some of the current Lancers in club ball. “It’s just necessary for this particular group to utilize all of the tools in their tool box.”
Allen feels as if this team continues to make strides in that quest.
“We’re adapting to his coaching style,” she said, noting she likes the philosophy that all practices are tryouts and no one’s role is secure.
And that leads the team to think that this could also end in the Class 4A state gathering in Coralville.
Players and coaches feel as though the pieces are in place for an extended state run.
“We have definitely been growing a lot since the beginning of the season,” said Moeller, who came in averaging over 3 kills per set. “Our lineup has changed a couple of times, but that hasn’t stopped us from working harder. Our losses have only motivated us.”
“We’ve put in a lot of work outside of the gym and doing team-bonding work as well,” said Allen. “We’re all so comfortable with everyone.”
And that is starting to translate to success on the court.
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