It was only a matter of time before the Mineola Lady Jackets simply had an off day. They have been on an amazing stretch of play and have rocketed to the top of the district table.

They had rattled off eight straight district wins, and they had energized the whole Mineola volleyball program. The past couple of months of Lady Jacket volleyball illustrated all those attributes seen at elite levels in the sport: communications, control, movement, spacing, anticipation, fluidity, defense.

At Harmony, last Friday, the Lady Jackets just had a bad day.

The Harmony Eagles used a relentless offensive attack and disciplined play to take Mineola in straight sets, 25-19, 25-19, 25-16. 

Perhaps sensing that the team did not seem to have their full kitbag with them, Coach TaShara Everett whistled an early time out in the first set. She repeated the mantra: “Control your court! Play defense!” 

Exhortations aside, the Lady Jackets were at a bit of a quandary about just how to pull out of the slump. 

There were momentary passages of play which may have righted the ship. Late in the second set, a combined block by Kyra Jackson and Mylee Fischer was followed by a scoring block by Fischer and a kill shot from the left wing by Jocelyn Whitehead. Harmony then broke the service. 

Early in the third set, progress realized with a short scoring rally was erased by a net violation and three mis-hits. 

The Lady Jackets will put this match in proper perspective, and will no doubt learn from it. The greatest takeaway will likely be the need for a spark with which to stem a negative turn of play.

Mineola, 8-1, concluded the district schedule Tuesday against Chapel Hill and awaits playoff action. Harmony and Mount Vernon, both 7-2, squared off to end the regular season and help determine playoff seeding.