Mineola finds tough going at Van

Posted 12/31/69

With confidence high after a 3-0 sweep at Daingerfield earlier in the week, the Mineola Lady Jackets had some tough sledding in the opening round of the Van Tourney. The Lady Jackets ran into a buzz …

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Mineola finds tough going at Van

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With confidence high after a 3-0 sweep at Daingerfield earlier in the week, the Mineola Lady Jackets had some tough sledding in the opening round of the Van Tourney. The Lady Jackets ran into a buzz saw in the form of the Lindale Lady Eagles in their opening match and then faced the White Oak Lady Roughnecks in the next match.

The Lady Eagles jumped out to a quick lead using a well-timed offense and excellent passing. Mineola fought back hard to close the score to 10-13, behind a four-point run from the service of Mylee Fischer. 

Lindale then handcuffed the Lady Jackets by allowing only two service opportunities in the remainder of the first set, securing a 25-14 win. 

Mineola opened the second set with a Jocelyn Whitehead kill. With renewed vigor, the Lady Jackets were putting up a spirited fight. The score was knotted 8-8 when Lindale went on a five-point run. That stretch of play decided the set which Lindale took 25-20.

The competition was stiff at the Van Invitational. White Oak came to Van in the middle of some significant athletic success in their girls programs. A sizable crowd came west to cheer on the Lady Roughnecks.  

Playing their first match of the tourney, White Oak was primed for action. It showed. A multi-faceted offense had the Lady Jackets under siege. When Mineola was able adjust to the play at the net, the Lady Roughnecks then stretched the court by shifting the ball from side to side. Mineola fell 10-25.

In the second set, the offensive assault continued. Mineola was able to break the White Oak service only five times. They fell by an identical score of 10-25. 

On Saturday, the Lady Jackets rebounded with a strong win against New Boston, carrying the match 25-13 and 25-9. Shylah Kratzmeyer and Olivia Hughes led the Mineola attack with Madi Bloodsworth contributing three aces.

In the Lady Jacket’s final match of the tourney, Mineola fell to Lone Oak in two sets. Like each match in tournament action, the Lone Oak match saw unique contributions from members of the Lady Jackets’ squad.

Against Lone Oak, Kenleigh Aguirre led the team with 11 defensive digs, while Gracie Finley joined Olivia Hughes in leading the tally of offensive kills.  

Tournament action is all about gauging where a team is at, gaining very competitive experience and building chemistry. Like all sports, the mechanics of volleyball are the necessary skills of the game, but it is the unquantifiable chemistry on which outcomes are decided. 

Mineola fans should consider the short trip to Hawkins to take in the Lady Jackets as they compete this Thursday and Saturday in the Hawkins Invitational, or the first match of regularly-scheduled games Friday at Alba-Golden. It should be a great opportunity to see some of that chemistry building before the district slate of games commences.