By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
MORTONS GAP -- Morale is riding high with the Hopkins County Central volleyball program and for good reason.
The Lady Storm (3-3) defeated McLean County (1-8) in two sets 25-20, 25-12 on Thursday evening to tie their 2008-win total just six matches into the year.
"It feels great," senior Kara Willis said. "It's a good accomplishment to have right now starting off the season."
In the first game, Willis' soft touch midway through the set gave Central a 17-11 advantage. The Lady Storm built the lead to as many eight, but McLean rallied to within reach at 21-17 and then 24-20. A Cougar player eventually hit the game-winning point back into the net for a Central victory.
Both squads battled back and forth trading points to being the second game until the Lady Storm manufactured an 11-2 run behind a series of solid serves. Central's streak led the squad to a 19-9 advantage before the team closed out the win.
"We've been working on serves a lot this week," coach Mary Catherine Adamson said. "We struggled on Monday night playing Union (County) with some serves, so we practiced on them this week, and they came out and showed us."
The team finished with 12 aces and 31 "good serves," Adamson said. Dustie Hoffman proved her serving abilities early in the first game when she recorded aces in 3-of-4 consecutive serves.
The Lady Storm (3-3) defeated McLean County (1-8) in two sets 25-20, 25-12 on Thursday evening to tie their 2008-win total just six matches into the year.
"It feels great," senior Kara Willis said. "It's a good accomplishment to have right now starting off the season."
In the first game, Willis' soft touch midway through the set gave Central a 17-11 advantage. The Lady Storm built the lead to as many eight, but McLean rallied to within reach at 21-17 and then 24-20. A Cougar player eventually hit the game-winning point back into the net for a Central victory.
Both squads battled back and forth trading points to being the second game until the Lady Storm manufactured an 11-2 run behind a series of solid serves. Central's streak led the squad to a 19-9 advantage before the team closed out the win.
"We've been working on serves a lot this week," coach Mary Catherine Adamson said. "We struggled on Monday night playing Union (County) with some serves, so we practiced on them this week, and they came out and showed us."
The team finished with 12 aces and 31 "good serves," Adamson said. Dustie Hoffman proved her serving abilities early in the first game when she recorded aces in 3-of-4 consecutive serves.
"It feels pretty good (to get an ace), Hoffman said. "We've been working on (serving) a lot in practice, and we work hard."
Adamson said she's noticed a difference in Hoffman's level of success.
"She's really improved this season with serves," Adamson said. "She stayed extra to help practice on her serves and get them in."
While the squad has improved at technical areas, most team members agree Central's overall success has been established through better communication.
"We've done a lot of stuff together and built friendships and just team work," Willis said. "It's been helping us."
Those relationships translate to better on-court play, Adamson said.
"We've been doing a lot of team-building drills, so they're coming out working as a team more, calling the ball, making good passes, making good serves, just a lot of team building, so they're out there as a team working together," she said.
"It's definitely built up their confidence a lot. They're really excited about the rest of the season and seeing how many wins we can get."
The Lady Storm will look to eclipse last year's mark when Central plays host to Trigg County at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Adamson said she's noticed a difference in Hoffman's level of success.
"She's really improved this season with serves," Adamson said. "She stayed extra to help practice on her serves and get them in."
While the squad has improved at technical areas, most team members agree Central's overall success has been established through better communication.
"We've done a lot of stuff together and built friendships and just team work," Willis said. "It's been helping us."
Those relationships translate to better on-court play, Adamson said.
"We've been doing a lot of team-building drills, so they're coming out working as a team more, calling the ball, making good passes, making good serves, just a lot of team building, so they're out there as a team working together," she said.
"It's definitely built up their confidence a lot. They're really excited about the rest of the season and seeing how many wins we can get."
The Lady Storm will look to eclipse last year's mark when Central plays host to Trigg County at 7 p.m. Thursday.
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