Bushnell-Prairie City High School volleyball coach Chloe Hickle is not looking for moral victories.
But despite her team losing its season opener at home to West Central 25-21, 25-18 Monday evening, she believes the team is heading in the right direction.
“I think overall the energy is better this year,” said Hickle. “Even though we didn’t win this game, I think everybody in this gym probably saw even more improvement from over the summer and from last year.”
In their most recent meeting last October, the Heat cruised to a 25-17, 25-8 victory over the Spartans.
Both set were closer this time around. Set one was knotted at 10-10 before West Central scored six of the next seven points in taking a lasting lead.
West Central led set two 17-16 before a Taelyn Kelly kill started a six-point run by Heat. After her kill, Kelly recorded six straight service points, including four aces.
“That hole wasn’t as big as the holes we normally dig, so I think that's an improvement,” said Hickle.
Junior Lillian Higgins was dominant at the net for West Central, notching 16 kills.
Three other players combined for 11 kills, including five by Rikki Pullen and four by Lauren Hinshaw.
“(West Central) has two very good hitters,” said Hickle. “They were the only reason we were down.”
The B-PC defense attempted to adjust defensively in the second set to some success.
“In the second set we were blocking one of their good hitters and staying up with them,” said Hickle.
“We’ve been working on that the most,” Hickle added of blocking. “But if we can’t stop hits like that, our defense is getting killed.”
“Mylee (Chenoweth) is pretty good at getting there,” Hickle said. “But we have to try and stop hits like that.”
Hickle noted that West Central effectively used back row attacks and the defense couldn’t read and react to them.
“Do I think we could’ve won one of those (sets) or both?,” said Hickle. “I think we could have, had we blocked better.”
Kendyl McCleery had three kills and four digs for B-PC, while Brynlee Beekman added two kills, two block assists and five set assists.
Jules Kreps recorded three service aces, while Triniti Williams, Justice Klinedinst and Hazel Farwell added two block assists apiece.
Chenoweth tallied nine digs, while Klinedinst added three for the Spartans.
“There’s not much that I can really be mad about with that game,” said Hickle. “This is game one. I see a lot more games that we will win.”
Kelly and Rylie Ferguson chalked up three service aces each, while Addy Burrell added 11 digs for West Central.
Ferguson finished with 25 set assists. The JV match saw West Central win 25-22, 25-15.
On Wednesday, the Spartans hosted Midwest Central in a non-conference contest, falling to the Raiders 25-16, 25-13.
Klinedinst recorded five kills and eight digs, while McCleery added three kills and eight digs for B-PC (0-2).
Chenoweth had two service aces and eight digs, while Beekman tallied nine set assists and eight digs.
Farwell finished with five solo blocks, while Williams and McCleery added three solo blocks each.
Kreps chipped in four digs. Midwest Central improved to 2-1. The B-PC slipped to 0-2 on the season, dropping a 25-19, 25-12 decision to Midwest Central.
The Spartans return to action Sept. 1, hosting Knoxville (1-1).
