LAPEL–Wednesday’s loss to Hamilton Heights was not so much a matter of Lapel playing poorly, because they didn’t. There was simply too much Husky power to overcome.
Four Hamilton Heights players reached double figures in kills as the Huskies outlasted the Bulldogs in four sets, 25-13, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17.
With the loss, Lapel falls to 17-7 on the year while Hamilton Heights improves to 10-11.
The key to the match was a pair of big scoring runs for the Huskies in the first two sets.
With the first set tied at eight, Hamilton Heights went on a 12-1 run to take control and, with Lapel leading 9-7 in the second set, the Huskies reeled off a 12-3 run to gain separation. Lapel battled back to make the second set close, but it was too much of a deficit to overcome.
“We had moments of greatness,” coach Hilary Eppert said. “I think Emily (Eppert) and Makynlee (Taylor) did a great job tonight, but we’ve got to get (everyone) on the same page and be consistent. That’s where it’s important for all our hitters to be on. If we get in a rotation where they aren’t, then we’re stuck. And that’s what happened tonight.”
Emily Eppert had 12 kills to lead the Bulldogs while Taylor added seven kills and a block. But senior Ana Collar, who had 11 kills while leading the team with 25 assists, simply overpowered the Lapel defense at times with her left handed attacks.
“Number two is really good,” coach Eppert said of Collar. “She’s a good setter and I think she leads them in kills too. She was everywhere tonight.”
The Bulldogs battled back to take the third set, thanks in large part to the service game. Juniors Isabel Anderson and Macie Schmitt tallied six of their combined seven aces during the third frame.
“I thought Isabel did a great job tonight,” coach Eppert said of her setter, who led all players with 27 assists. “Emily had a lot of good digs, overall our defense was pretty good. There were a lot of great rallies.”
Senior Taylor Murdock added six kills and two blocks for the Bulldogs.
Lapel won the junior varsity match over the Huskies 25-19, 25-22. Freshmen Lexi Swanson and Lily Daniels led the way. Swanson had seven kills and five aces while Daniels had 12 assists and five aces.
Lapel will be back in action tonight as they host Sheridan.
