While Mingus Union High School head volleyball coach Amanda Puckett saw some good things Tuesday, Sept. 16, ultimately it was not enough to prevent a 1-3 start and a home loss to Payson High School.
“We started to flow better, but we were just not really meshing well as a team,” she said after the 25-16, 25-10, 25-20 loss. “We would have a great pass but couldn’t follow with a kill.”
Although unforced errors have plagued the Marauders’ service return game early on, both Puckett and her senior and statistical leaders still see the progress that was evident in a straight-set home sweep of Bullhead City Mohave High School, 25-19, 25-21, 25-12.
“We really stayed together, even when the numbers are going down,” said sophomore Auli Hanks, who led the Marauders in defensive digs against Payson with 16. “We kind of got a little down at each other, but we were able to pick it up. Whenever someone goes down to hit, we’ve all got to cover them.”
Senior captain Sarah Ortiz agreed that the improvement has been evident since a straight-set loss Sept. 4 at lower-division Sedona Red Rock High School.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Sept. 17, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
