Independence Falls Twice More To Close Out Coffeyville Tournament
September 8, 2018
COFFEYVILLE, Kan. - After dropping both matches on day one, the Independence Lady Pirates returned to Coffeyville for day two of tournament action taking on the NEO Lady Norse and Neosho Panthers. The Lady Pirates looked good multiple times throughout the day but were unable to get anything going dropping both matches 3-0.
"It was a painful weekend as we lost all four matches," coach Daniela Pena said. "We encountered a lot of good and bad, but we will take the good and move on in preparation for what is to come."
In the first match against NEO, the Lady Pirates came out flat in the first set knocking balls into the net and surrendering aces on a 4-0 NEO run. The Lady Norse got a huge kill, but a service error put Independence on the board cutting the score to 5-1.
A combo block by Jessie Lewman and Patricia Seller followed by a kill from Briana Prescott gave the Lady Pirates some motivation on a 3-2 NEO run and back to back to back kills from Prescott and Destiny Thomas cut the score to 8-6.
Another 3-2 run by the Lady Norse made the score 11-7, but again Thomas was on the attack making it 11-8 with yet another huge kill. A 4-1 NEO run was broken up on a kill from Seller but a kill and a service error followed by a double contact pushed the score to 18-10.
Independence faltered throughout the remainder of the set giving up a 7-3 run to the Lady Norse, dropping the set 13-25.
The second set began with the Lady Pirates fighting hard with multiple kills from Thomas and Prescott thanks to tremendous digs by Anachariz Cruz, but NEO held an 8-6 advantage. Independence surged back with more attacks from the duo, but a 12-7 run had NEO ahead 20-13.
Kiersten Vincent got into the mix with Thomas on the kill trail and Seller answered with two of her own, however despite outscoring the opponent 6-5 Independence fell in the set 19-25.
In the third set, the Lady Pirates began with an ace from Shelymar Diaz and kills from Prescott and Thomas along with multiple NEO errors had Independence leading 6-3. The Lady Norse battled back but a 4-4 even run capped by a kill from Alessia Laghi pushed the Lady Pirates' lead to 10-7.
NEO fought back on a 4-1 run, but a push too far gave Independence the lead back 12-11. The Lady Norse fought back on a 5-0 run taking the lead 17-12, but a kill from Noleyshka Santiago and Thomas brought the Lady Pirates back within three.
Independence had no answer through the remainder of action as NEO outscored the Lady Pirates 8-1 taking the set 25-15 and the match 3-0.
In match number two against Neosho, the Lady Pirates started the first set slow as too much impact pushed the ball out on return, but a ball hit into the net and an ace by Laghi gave Independence a 4-3 advantage.
Neosho tied it at 4-4 but a combo block from Thomas and Seller regained the lead 5-4. A 3-2 run tied the set at 7-7 and after an error Prescott was dynamic on the attack tying it at 8-8. Prescott and Seller delivered kills and a ball out of bounds gave the Lady Pirates an 11-9 lead.
The Panthers answered on a kill but once again it was Prescott and Thomas throwing it down pushing the lead to 14-10. Neosho killed the ball on the following serve and recorded a kill afterward, but Thomas threw down two more kills with Independence leading 16-12.
A service error cut the lead to three points, but a kill by Natasha Colon pushed the score to 17-13. The Panthers went on a 3-0 run, a kill from Vincent brought the score to 18-16. An error and a block from Neosho tied the match at 18-18 and a kill, followed by a ball hit out of bounds gave the Panthers a 20-18 advantage.
A kill from Prescott and a service error tied the set at 20-20 and the teams exchanged points making it 21-21 before a double contact and a kill pushed Neosho back in front 23-21. Prescott delivered a kill bringing the Lady Pirates within one, but consecutive kills would play a part as Independence dropped the set 22-25.
The second set began much like the last on a 3-1 run for Neosho and two kills later the Lady Pirates trailed 5-1. A 3-1 run was in effect for Independence until two straight kills pushed the Panthers' lead to 7-5.
Independence seemed dazed knocking balls in the net and out of bounds as Neosho was running away on a 11-4 run, leading 18-9. The Lady Pirates were outscored 7-1 to end the set, falling 10-25.
In the third set, Independence battled, but the double contact woes continued as the Lady Pirates found themselves down 7-2. Alessia Laghi and Destiny Thomas attacked with back to back kills, but a miscommunication extended the lead for the Panthers to 8-4.
Neosho was on a run when much needed kills from Jessie Lewman and Prescott cut the score to 13-9. Independence scored four straight points after a 3-0 Panther run but a block out of bounds still had the Lady Pirates trailing 16-13.
Neosho went on a 9-2 scoring run to close out the set 25-15 and Independence dropped another 3-0 decision.
The Lady Pirates are now 3-6 and continue action on the road with three more consecutive road games with the first stop Monday September 10th against the Ottawa Braves with the first serve set for 7 pm.