North Callaway hadn't defeated Mexico in a best-of-five volleyball match in its history.
That changed on Wednesday when the Ladybirds won in four sets (25-14, 26-28, 25-14, 25-13) at Mexico. …
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North Callaway hadn't defeated Mexico in a best-of-five volleyball match in its history.
That changed on Wednesday when the Ladybirds won in four sets (25-14, 26-28, 25-14, 25-13) at Mexico for their first win over Mexico (0-4) since 2015. Alex Craighead led North Callaway with 15 kills, and Lauren Pezold picked up five of her six service aces during a 10-0 run to start the fourth set.
Craighead played a big role in North Callaway (3-2) taking control of the third set during a 16-2 run in the middle. Head coach Andrew Klein said the Ladybirds seemed to go on a run when Craighead was attacking well.
"She's done a really good job of working during practice and working with her setters on keeping the ball in the play and not having so many errors," Klein said. "Credit to our back row to for getting our setters in a good spot to be able to set her."
Peyton Boulware led with 18 digs, and Rylee Horstman finished with 17 digs to go along with seven kills. Pezold led the team with 18 assists.
Klein said Horstman is a "college talent" who has aspirations of playing at the next level. He said North Callaway's team captain and all-conference player has already demonstrated her capability of doing that by playing a solid all-around game last season and this season.
"She's definitely gotten more complete as a player," Klein said. "She's got a challenging serve and does a good job of challenging other peoples' back rows when she hits."
Klein said "focus" is a key word for North Callaway so far this season and that is what the team didn't have during Mexico's comeback in the second set. He said the Ladybirds have returning players like Craighead and Horstman to lead the way, but there are also some girls in the midst of their debut varsity seasons.
Moving up from best-of-three to best-of-five as girls do from junior varsity to varsity can be difficult at first, Klein said. While he is glad that North Callaway played a competitive set like the second set, Klein said it was a shame the Ladybirds couldn't come out on top and wants that to change.
"Stamina and conditioning is a lot different," Klein said. "This is our third game in a row this week. Monday we played in four sets, Tuesday we played in four sets and tonight we played in four sets."
To prevent a fifth set, Pezold came out firing with her serve in the fourth set. North Callaway had eight aces in that set.
"That's why we start the game with Lauren," Klein said. "Lauren is very consistent."
North Callaway started the season with two wins, including a sweep of Eastern Missouri Conference rival Montgomery County. The win over Mexico snapped a two-match losing streak, but the Ladybirds have avoided being swept so far in their losses to Russellville and Fulton.
"Not getting swept in those in very encouraging as a coach," Klein said. "(Tuesday night against Fulton), we lost two of the sets by two. It could have went the other way. We really hope to see Fulton in their tournament Saturday."
North Callaway plays in the Melissa Hoerber Invitational Tournament on Saturday in Fulton.
