North Callaway is on a three-match losing streak and needs a fresh start.

North Callaway vs Mexico Photo Gallery

The Ladybirds lost 3-1 on Wednesday at home to Mexico (15-25, 23-25, 25-21 and 22-25), taking their first set against the Lady Bulldogs since 2015 after being swept five straight matches. 

Head coach Andrew Klein said losing in four sets at Russellville (13-25, 25-20, 16-25, 14-25) and three at Fulton (12-25, 21-25, 14-25) the previous two nights made it clear what North Callaway (2-3) needs to start doing: be sharper at the start.

“It’s just getting off to a slow start,” Klein said. “We’ve got to figure out either a different pregame routine or a different starting lineup or whatever it is to get that spark and that urgency. That first set matters a lot for momentum purposes and for cushion so we’re not playing so tight in knowing we are down.”

North Callaway lost the first six points against Mexico (3-1) and couldn’t find a groove in the first set. The Ladybirds committed various unforced errors and feel practice is overdue, which will be available until Saturday’s Melissa Hoerber Invitational Tournament in Fulton following three matches in three days. 

Klein said he is confident the Ladybirds can fix those issues after Mexico exploited them with its 14 service aces. He said North Callaway can reach more balls than it showed on Wednesday. 

“Their serves were great, but it is something we have to work on,” Klein said. “It doesn’t matter how great their serves are because we have to be able to serve receive better. It’s hard to side out sometimes.”

Mexico’s main hitter Jaclynn Cline was a concern for North Callaway going in, Klein said, and thought the girls countered her well at times. The final three sets were more competitive and saw several ties and even leads by North Callaway.

North Callaway’s biggest weapon, literally and figuratively, is its front row players. In the middle, Bailey Hill had six kills and four blocks, and Alex Craighead had three blocks. Klein added the effort on the outside from girls like Avis Endres, Rylee Horstman and Natalie Shryock were key during North Callaway’s positive moments.

“Mexico has a couple really strong hitters, in particular their right side hitter,” Klein said. “She’s an important girl for them as she gets a lot of attempts, she can set the ball a lot and we’re not particularly used to blocking right side. I put a lot of weight on their shoulders to be able do that now, putting a lot of weight on my outsides’ shoulders to block with our middles. Sometimes, our other front row players — our right side and our outside — get forgotten about. It’s important for them, especially on a girl like that, to double block and set the block right.”

Klein said his outside front row players are known more for their swinging ability on kills, and for good reason, but they need to do well in aspects like blocking too for the team’s benefit. Endres finished with five kills, and Horstman had two kills within the final five points of the third winning set for the Ladybirds. Jaden Smithee finished with a team-high 15 assists.

“Sometimes, they forget that they also have to defend up front,” Klein said. “I had a good conversation with them, and they are very coachable. All five of those girls, they did a good job responding.”