The Chuckey-Doak volleyball team turned in a complete effort on Wednesday evening as it made quick work of David Crockett in a 3-0 sweep, 25-17, 25-19, 25-20.
“I feel like girls played very intentional today, which is something we have been talking about,” Chuckey-Doak coach Marissa Snapp. “I was very proud of how well they played. Our back row took a turn for the positive, we got some dime passes, we had some great blocks. All the way around, front row and back row they played extremely well.”
Despite dominating for much of the afternoon Chuckey-Doak found itself playing catch-up in the early portion of the first set. Lilly Mango scored on a block and a kill and then she sent over two serves Chuckey-Doak could not return as the Lady Pioneers went in front 9-4.
Jayden Myer got a kill to fall for Chuckey-Doak to close the gap to 9-6, but they could not find the lead.
That was until Hayleigh Seidl dropped in an ace to put the Lady Knights up 15-14. Then the powerful palm of Jacey Taylor began strike fear in Crockett’s backline. First she went down the left line for a kill and followed with a missile that buzzed by the entire defense before crashing into the far corner.
Taylor’s three consecutive kills put Chuckey-Doak in front 18-14 and breathed life into the entire roster.
“That was a big lift for us, and a big push for our momentum,” Snapp said. “We were able to adjust and started thinking a lot more out there. That was great from Jacey and it sets the standard. That was what we needed to push points and everyone else fell in line as well.”
Chuckey-Doak kept building and after Belle Karriker pushed one down the line and Taylor pushed one to the backline the Lady Black Knights led 22-15.
Chuckey-Doak won the first set 25-17.
The second set started with Taylor getting a kill from the back row and Karriker hammering one from the middle. After an ugly start to the first set the second set was never in question.
Karriker kept up her dominance at the net with two blocks and another kill and Hayden Kenney beat the Lady Pioneers with an ace as the lead grew to 13-5. In that stretch David Crocket scored one attacking point.
The Lady Pioneers were able to cut the lead to 16-12 on a left-side kill from Samantha Bogart.
A kill by Kallie Dobson broke the streak and got Chuckey-Doak going again. Myers added two hard swings in the closing stretch as the Lady Knights claimed a 25-19 win.
The third set was more closely contested and Crockett scored the first points. Karriker used back-to-back, smothering blocks to tie things at 4-4. Taylor then slammed one from the left post and Jessie Dayton followed with an ace.
The lead grew to 10-5 when Kenney slipped a tip past the block of Reese Cash.
After a block and a kill from Karriker Chuckey-Doak was in front 20-13.
David Crocektt was able to close the gap late, but Karriker finished the 25-20 win with a blast from the left side.
Taylor finished Wednesday with 13 kills for Chuckey-Doak. Karriker had eight kills and six blocks. Myers had seven kills and two blocks. Chloe Kirkpatrick had 22 assists and 11 digs. Kenney had 10 digs and three aces.
Chuckey-Doak will be back in action on Thursday with a trip to Johnson County. The postseason is now a month away and the focus the rest of the way will be on building chemistry as the Lady Knights try to once again play deep into October.
“Our focus has to be on chemistry,” Snapp said. “This team is really good individually, but now we are starting to play well together. They are learning each other, and understanding who is on the floor with them. I’m really excited for the improvements they are making.”
