MCC LOSES TO ADRIAN/ELLSWORTH

The MCC Rebel volleyball team fell into a regular two match schedule, first facing the Adrian-Ellsworth Dragons on Tuesday, September 12th, in a conference contest.

Tough serving by AE put the Rebels on their heels to start set one. MCC faced a 1-7 deficit early on, net violations didn’t help the cause, prompting an early time out for the Rebels.

The Rebels were not able to get anything going and the scrappy Dragons kept everything alive to take set one, 2511. MCC, plagued with digging and hitting errors along with a sluggish block, went to the bench to regroup.

MCC started set 2 with the serve and there’s a noticeable change in the Rebels. Kate Blankenship is reading the Adrian tip well, unwilling to give up the easy points. Abby Loosbrock made some positive changes, specifically from the service line – charting back to back ace serves as the Rebels lead 7-4.

Adrian wasn’t going to make it easy on the home team, and battled back to keep the game close, taking advantage of Rebel errors and reclaiming the lead. Both teams hustled throughout the second set, but it was MCC holding on to take the set, 25-21.

Set number three picks up right where game two left off. Back to back net serves for the Rebels haunted the Rebels early on allowing the Dragons to get a comfortable lead but not before Atalie Rosenbrook put the hammer down to turn the tide back to MCC.

The fight for points was being won by Adrian but not before Blankenship sets a fire under her teammates with a stupendous one-armed save leading to a double contact call against the visitors. The side out brings in Jessa Gillette to serve for the Rebels. Gillette hands out an ace serve and MCC goes on a run to take the lead, 19-18. Following Adrian’s head coach call to talk it over, the Dragons regain control and finish game three, 25-20 with an ace serve.

MCC made its way through the serving order scoring more than the Dragons and it’s the Rebels on top of Adrian, 13-6, behind the formidable defensive front line of Thea Schneider, Loosbrock and Blankenship.

A little spark for Adrian mid game came from the service line, going on a little run – causing a timeout from the Rebel bench, 19-15. Blocking remained solid as did strong serving from Blankenship as she served points 21 to a game winning kill by Schneider and on to the deciding set 5.

The Rebels come away with the serve to start the deciding set, but it’s taken away after a long rally on a hitting error by MCC. Tied at 3-3 following an untouched kill by Schneider, the Dragons try to quiet the crowd that encircles MCC’s temporary home. The teams refusing to let the ball fall, fight for points as the Dragons pull ahead by two. Emmi Peltola ties the game at six and both teams refuse to let up.

The ball falls in Adrian’s favor behind some very good defensive play by the Dragons. MCC is unable to get back into a rhythm and the visitors take the match set, 15-9.

Game Stats: Serving: Kate Slettum (3 aces) Kills: Abby Loosbrock (10), Atalie Rosenbrook (9), Thea Schneider (8) Digs: Emmi Peltola (14), Blocks: Abby Loosbrock (4) Assists: Kate Slettum (18), Kelli Miller (19)