Coming off a three-set loss to Friends earlier in the week, the Tabor volleyball team fought back to defeat Sterling Saturday.
?We needed a win,? coach Amy Ratzlaff said. ?A win heals a lot of wounds, and I?m really glad we had the week we had now. It?s what fuels you into what?s left of the season. Sometimes those frustrating weeks come up late in the season and they kind of affect you at tournament time, and so I?d rather have it now.?
Injuries have also been a factor.
?Last week, the universe wasn?t right,? Ratzlaff said. ?It just took a toll on us, both play and injury-wise, and that will come back around.?
Sterling?The Bluejays secured a 3-1 homecoming win over Sterling Saturday.
Tabor took an early lead in Set 1, but Sterling tied it 9-9 and later enjoyed a 7-0 run to claim a 17-10 lead. Tabor rallied to tie the game, 22-22, but Sterling won, 25-22.
?That?s a game you just bury and go on,? coach Amy Ratzlaff said. ?It?s hard not to panic after you lose a set like that, but they really did a good job of just buckling down and doing what they needed to do.?
Tabor regrouped and never trailed to win the second set, 25-14.
Although Sterling drew within 24-22 late in Set 3, the Bluejays won, 25-22.
Tabor dominated the final set, enjoying a 21-6 lead after a service ace by Amy Jo Maphet. The Bluejays cruised to a 25-12 win.
?I thought the girls did a really good job of focusing on the strategy and not letting that first game bother them,? Ratzlaff said. ?Our serve-receive was struggling the first game, and that?s not like us. Once we were passing well, we were able to hit, and it was as simple as that really.
?It?s good to win on homecoming and have the day to enjoy it.?
Jessie Vogts led Tabor with 17 kills. Katie Kaufman added 14.
Friends?Tabor lost to Friends in three sets Wednesday, 27-25, 25-20 and 25-21.
Katie Kaufman led Tabor with a game-high 14 kills. Holli Wolf had 36 assists, and Amy Jo Maphet recorded 20 digs.
?I just didn?t think we played our best ball this week, and that is always going to have a little bit of an ebb and flow,? coach Amy Ratzlaff said. ?It?s unfortunate we were playing Friends when we weren?t playing our best ball.
?I really think we can get them if we keep working.?
Coming?Tabor (6-2, 14-5) hosts Bethany (0-8, 3-16) tonight at 7 p.m. and will play at Southwestern (2-6, 4-14) Saturday at 7 p.m.
