The Grace Christian volleyball team suffered two losses to quality opponents last week. A comeback against Heritage Academy fell short in a 3-2 defeat and the Lady Eagles were beaten by Starkville 3-0.
After dropping the first two sets to Heritage, 25-23 and 25-21, the Lady Eagles evened the match by winning the next two 25-18 an 25-9. That set up a decisive fifth set, won by Heritage 15-8.
Coincidentally, Heritage also won an earlier match with Grace Christian 3-2 and the fifth set was also 15-8.
“In the fourth set we did really well,” said coach Jamey Willers. “We served well and had a lot of control and confidence. But in the fifth set, I think we came out nervous and stopped moving,”
Jasmine Kelly had 13 kills against Heritage and Anna Howell had nine. Maggie Phillips had eight aces, Bella Brownlee had 11 assists and Anna Gillis had nine. Carley Peterson had 10 service receptions, Kelly had nine.
Willers said her team played one of its best matches against Starkville despite a 25-15, 25-13, 25-16 defeat. Starkville, an MHSAA 6A school, is one of the state's best teams. The Yellowjackets are 15-3, ranked seventh in the state by the website MaxPreps.
Zoe Elder had 33 assists and six kills for Starkville.
Grace Christian had matches Monday against Amory Christian and Regents School of Oxford and has a home match Thursday with Noxapater.
