MCDERMITT - If you take away the first two points of Saturday's match against Austin, it was quite a successful home debut for the McDermitt High School volleyball team.
The Fillies scored the first two points of the match on aces, but it was all Lady Bulldogs from there, as they won 25-6, 25-16 and 25-21 to improve to 1-1 on the season. The matchup was a non-league contest, since the Fillies are playing as an independent.
"It feels good to get the first win of the season," said MHS head coach Austin Mayo. "We won the first game easily and maybe thought it wouldn't be tough the rest of the way. We are young and staying focused for the entire match is our main focus right now. We let Austin hang around a little too long in the final game."
After trailing 2-0 in the first set, McDermitt fired back with four consecutive points, which was capped off by a kill by Kristie Long. Leading by one point at 5-4, the Lady Bulldogs' Deandra Dave came up with a kill and the rout was on from there.
Long served 14 consecutive points, including seven aces, as the Austin defense had trouble receiving the ball on a number of occasions. Up 21-6, Lydia Northrup served out the remaining four points, including three aces.
The second set went back and forth with the Fillies leading by as many as three points at 6-3. An ace by the Lady Bulldogs' Long tied the set at 6-6, only to see Austin score the next four points to take its largest lead of the day at 10-6 and forcing McDermitt to take a timeout. The Fillies' momentum ran out of steam from there as the Lady Bulldogs went on a 12-1 run to lead 18-11, which included two kills by Va Draunidalo and two aces by Megan Sam.
Austin closed within six points at 19-13, but Draunidalo added two more aces and Dave a kill to close out the set.
The third set saw the Fillies score the first five points, only to have the Lady Bulldogs tie the set at 6-6.
"We had no focus and were just standing around on the floor and not moving," added the first-year coach. "It was a little closer than I wanted it to be. We are young and are learning you have to play the entire match."
Austin held its final advantage at 16-15, when Draunidalo started a 3-0 run with an ace. Leading 21-20, the Lady Bulldogs were aided by Austin being in the net on a hit. The ball ended up on the McDermitt side of the floor, which would have tied the set. Instead, the infraction gave McDermitt a two-point advantage and the Lady Bulldogs went on to score the next three points to win the match.
McDermitt opened their season on Tuesday, Sept. 10, against Jordan Valley, Ore., in a non-conference match. The Mustangs swept the Lady Bulldogs 25-13, 25-11 and 25-15.
"Jordan Valley came out and played tough," Mayo said. "I was surprised how athletic they were. It was the first time out on the floor for us and I thought we did OK."
The Lady Bulldogs have a busy week, that begins tonight in Crane, Ore., for a 5 p.m. match with the Mustangs. McDermitt is back home to host Wells on Thursday in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and Jackpot on Friday at noon.
"It's a busy week for us and we jump right into league play," Mayo said. "We have to work on our coverage a little more. We gave away some points. We still have a long way to go, but we will get there."
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