Still playing with a short-handed team, Washington registered a 2-5 record last Friday and Saturday at the Oakville Volleyball Tournament.
The Lady Jays (8-10) were without five players during Friday’s pool play matches.
Hitters Rachel Jackson, Kirstie Leslie and Andrea Zoellner, along with setter Emily Voss missed the four pool play matches as the Lady Jays went 1-3.
Jackson and Voss returned to the lineup Saturday in bracket play, where Washington went 1-2.
“Those are some key players for us and we yet again had to go without them,” said Washington Head Coach Kym Blankenship. “Friday night, the second to last game, Rachel Meyer went down with an ankle injury that will keep her out for several weeks. She was playing defense for us. It was nice to have Rachel back Saturday.”
Washington’s lone pool play win came over Troy, 25-16, 25-20.
Pool play losses came against Lindbergh (25-11, 25-22), Villa Duchesne (25-17, 25-14) and Ursuline (25-16, 25-16).
“We are still working on consistency,” Blankenship said. “Between the changing lineups due to injuries and a wide range of age and ability on the court at any given time, we seem to take two steps forward then one step backward from week to week.”
Washington opened bracket play Saturday by knocking off Jackson, 22-25, 25-15, 17-15.
The Lady Jays then lost to Oakville, 25-9, 25-16.
Washington ended the tournament by falling to Rosati-Kain, 25-21, 25-20.
“We had the opportunity to play different levels of teams,” Blankenship said. “Some we competed with very well and others we just tried to play as hard as we could.”
Washington takes a 2-1 GAC Central record heading into Tuesday’s contest against Holt. The Lady Jays visit Ft. Zumwalt East Thursday before next week’s Hermann Tournament.
The Lady Jays will be in Pool A at Hermann and play Monday matches against Montgomery County, New Haven and Pacific.
Blankenship hopes to see continued improvement from her team.
“As we reach the midpoint of the season, I hope that the girls have the desire and drive to push past our hurdles.”
