The Reeths-Puffer volleyball team had an up-and-down day on Saturday at the Fruitport Invitational, but the Rockets' first match was definltely a highlight.
R-P defeated Whitehall 25-15, 25-22, which pleased Rockets coach Justin Birr.
“We opened the season at the Whitehall Invite and played four matches in a row with no break, with Whitehall being our fourth match,” he said. “We lost that match, so I was happy that we got our revenge today at the Fruitport Invite.
R-P's Makayla Disselkoen pounds a shot over the net. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“To lose to Whitehall by a combined 15 points a couple weeks ago, and then to beat them by a combined 13 points shows the growth of our team.”
The other two matches did not go as well for the Rockets, who fell to Gull Lake 15-25, 10-25 and Coopersville 17-25, 18-25.
“Gull Lake had a balanced attack, and the strength of their right-side attack really showed our weaknesses in our blocking and defending schemes,” Birr said. “That is also our worst serve-receive and serving game (only 69% serving) all year. We will definitely be looking at this film for how to improve our game.
“I thought we matched Coopersville's intensity in both sets, but they just executed a little more in serving and attacking. Grace Darke, one of our setters, suffered a broken collar bone in the first set, and I thought our team handled that adverse situation quite well.
R-P's Carlee Bowen (2) keeps the ball in play. Photo/Jeremy Clark
"It was an emotional moment for sure, but we showed grit and poise and continued to battle against a tough opponent. Grace's injury will be a big loss for our team.”
Mairyn Peterson, Mady Snyder and Alissa Klopp each had eight kills for Reeths-Puffer. Maddy Dyer had 24 assists and Darke added 10.
Defensively, Darke had 14 digs, Snyder added 11 and Peterson had three blocks.
The Rockets are now 5-5 on the season.
R-P's Maddy Dyer tips the ball over the net. Photo/Jeremy Clark