Published: August 20, 2008 11:20 am         

GHS spikers drop opener to Bremen

Having just four returning letterwinners does not give the Goshen High School girls volleyball team very much experience.

The Redskins’ inexperience showed at times during a season-opening 25-15, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21 loss to Bremen Tuesday night at Goshen.

“Experience wise we are not there yet,” second-year Goshen coach Kera Maure said. “If we had more letterwinners we would not be making as many mistakes.

“Our defense was great, but once they get to serve-receive they freak out. Our hitters are not trying to hit spots and they are not making adjustments to their hitting.

“We kept saying last season we were getting better, but we are not there yet. We had two-a-day practices, but our experience has not come together yet.”

Maure pointed to the third game as an example of Goshen’s need to gain more experience. The Redskins were leading 20-17 before letting Bremen come back and win.

“We play to a certain point and then let up,” she said. “I don’t understand it. They did not do that on the JV. You have to play all the way through to 25. You can’t stop at 18 or 20.”

Goshen (0-1) visits Westview on Thursday.

After dropping the first game, the Redskins jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the second on the serving of senior Kelsey Kidd. Goshen pushed its lead to 14-3 before letting Bremen back into the game.

Rachel Frantz, GHS senior, tried to rally her team in the fourth game by serving three straight aces as the Redskins pulled to within two points (22-20).

“We got some good serving from Kidd and Frantz,” Maure said.

Kidd also notched 20 setting assists.

Frantz recorded 19 digs, senior Jena Toney and sophomore Kaitlyn Troyer both 11.

“I liked the way we hustled most of the time on defense,” Maure said. “We did a great job of getting balls up and ready for play.”

Toney had six winning spikes and junior Jordyn Myers five. Junior Olivia Zepeda had four solo blocks and two assists.

Bremen was a 25-18, 25-15 JV winner. Sophomores Madison Hussey and Caitlin Yoder and freshman Mckenzie Byler each had two winning spikes for Goshen. Freshman Julie Jesse had two aces, Yoder five digs and sophomore Lauren Lehman four.

In the freshman match, Bremen won 25-21, 25-23. Brittney Hussey was 11-for-13 serving with five aces to go with five setting assists for Goshen. Yesenia Montanez had three winning spikes and Andrea Yeater three digs.