VEEDERSBURG — The battle for some confidence went to Fountain Central in a 3-1 volleyball win over North Montgomery.
With both teams struggling for wins, the non-conference matchup gave both coaches a night to try some different things. Things worked better for the Mustangs, who move to 2-7 on the season, while the Chargers fall to 2-12.
“We moved three people into different spots in the lineup,” FC coach Alyssa Larson said. “We’ve been struggling on offense; we weren’t aggressive enough and tonight things worked. They clicked and we found some open holes.”
North’s changes were more forced than desired.
“We’ve had to move our lineups around so much,” Chargers coach Jodi Webster said. “We are still going through growing pains, but a lot of our inconsistency is that we are still looking for our roles and positions. We moved Madi Welch to setter with Gracie Chapman hurt,” she added, noting the sophomore’s first varsity start in the setter spot.
North took the first set 25-22 after jumping out to a as much as a nine-point lead. The Mustangs made a run late to tie the set at 22, but a point by Carli Desmet and two from Khloey Surface sealed the win.
The Mustangs used their warm and stuffy court to win the next three sets.
Trailing 23-20 in the second, FC scored the last five points to win 25-20. Alexis Griffen led the way with two of those five, including one of the dozen service aces that the Mustangs had.
Fountain Central only trailed 2-1 in the third set on the way to a 25-20 win, and never trailed in the fourth set, winning 25-17.
“We have the pieces,” Webster said. “Putting those pieces together is still our challenge. We have to own our positions and our roles in those positions. Building confidence is part of that too.”
The Mustangs got a big night from one of the changes.
“Stella Jones was getting six or seven hits a night in the middle,” Larson said of the junior hitter. “She had 17 kills tonight on the outside.”
Jones was money from the left side of her net, going cross court. She was on the end of several of Lillie Fishero’s 23 assists.
“We moved Alexis Griffin,” Larson said of the senior, “and she had eight kills, 23 digs and four aces. She just had a great night. Every time she touched the ball, something positive happened.”
Marley Massey had 31 digs in the libero spot, while Reagan Oswalt had five blocks and five kills.
“We had some games get away from us earlier in the year,” Larson said. “We knew it was time for something different. We had to put some confidence in our offense, and we got some tonight. Now it is about consistency.”
The Mustangs have another Montgomery County foe Thursday when they travel to Southmont. The Chargers are back on the road again tonight, this time to Greencastle.
