CMS 7th 'B' spikers sweep Rusk, 2-0
night. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER -- The Center Middle School Lady Rider volleyball teams were in action at home Monday night here at Roughrider Middle School Gymnasium, trying to improve their skills as they took on the Rusk Lady Eagles. The CMS 7th Grade 'B' squad swept to a 2-0 victory, while the 8th Grade 'B' team split two games with Rusk. The Center 7th Grade 'A' team and the 8th Grade 'A' squad both dropped 2-0 decisions.
In eighth grade action, the Center 'A' team got off to a slow start, falling 25-4 in the opener. In the second game, the Lady Riders battled before falling 25-15.
"That first game was scary," Center Head Coach Beth Nichols said of her eighth grade 'A' squad. "But I was proud of the way the girls came back and played better in the second game. They have to learn that just because they get off to a bad start, not to get discouraged and lose their concentration. That's why I was pleased with the way they came back strong in the second game."
Nichols said that although she would like to see victories, seeing her team improves and adapt the offense that the high school squads run is the main objective. "The high school offense is complicated, so we're adding a little bit at a time," Nichols explained. "And by putting in a little at a time the girls understand what we're running.
"So a win at this point is just a little something extra. The girls are doing a great job of learning what we put in, and understanding it and putting it to practice on the court."
In the 8th grade 'B' contest, Center fought hard in the opener, capturing a 25-23 decision. But the Lady Eagles came back in the second game to take a 25-4 decision to force the tie as time ran out.
In seventh grade action, Rusk won the 'A' matchup, but winning the first game, 25-11, and then taking the second contest, 25-13.
But the Center 7th Grade 'B' squad rolled to a 2-0 sweep by winning Game 1, 25-21, and then taking Game 2 by a 23-18 count as time ran out.