Vandalia falls to Piasa in only game in past week

VANDALIA – A week of practice comes at a good time for the Lady Vandals.

Vandalia struggled to play as a team in two of the three sets last Thursday in a 17-25, 25-14, 18-25 loss to Southwestern in South Central Conference action.

And with a week off before Thursday’s game at Hillsboro, coach Allison Hall said the team would have practices focused on working together.

“We have to learn something from every game, and it’s still getting to that point where everybody is contributing and doing their part – whether big or small,” Hall said. “We just got done talking about that in the locker room – everybody has to do their part, starting in practice.

“We will focus on being consistent,” she said. “We have to work on being a team instead of individuals.”

The Lady Vandals (5-4, 1-3 SCC) never led in the first set, forcing just one tie, 6-6, following three straight kills, but having little offense after that point, with five kills and seven attack errors.

Vandalia brought a new approach in the next set, however, playing with energy to dominate the Lady Birds.

Junior Mercedes Reynolds came off of the bench to record four kills during the set, the last of which gave the Lady Vandals a 15-5 lead. After that, Vandalia wouldn’t lead by fewer than eight points.

But that momentum could not be carried throughout the entire third set.

The teams traded points in the early-going until the set was tied at 12. Three aces and a kill by Southwestern forced Hall to call a timeout, and the Lady Vandals wouldn’t get back within three points for the rest of the match.

Senior Megan Godoyo led the teams in kills, with nine, and junior Johanna Walton was right behind, with eight.

Junior Jessica Sullens assisted on 29 of the team’s 30 kills.

Sullens, junior Ally Sasse, junior Kadi Metzger and senior Brandy Protz each had one ace.

Thursday, Sept. 12
Southwestern 25, Vandalia 17
Vandalia 25, Southwestern 15
Southwestern 25, Vandalia 18
Kills: Godoyo, 9; Walton, 8; Reynolds, 5; Metzger, 4; Sasse, 2; Makayla Tinker, 2.
Aces: Metzger, 1; Protz, 1; Sasse, 1; Sullens, 1.
Assists: Sullens, 29; Sasse, 1.
Blocks: Tinker, 1; Sullens, ½; Walton, ½.
Record: 5-4 (1-3 SCC)
JV: Vandalia (4-1) won, 25-17, 25-11.