Lady Tigers fall in straight sets to Miami Trace

GREENFIELD — The McClain varsity volleyball team dropped a straight set match to Frontier Athletic Conference leader, the Miami Trace Lady Panthers, Tuesday night by scores of 25-5, 25-20, and 25-5.

The Lady Panthers, who are the defending FAC champions, and are currently tied at the top this year with Chillicothe, have a strong team with lots of returning players from last year’s squad.

Miami Trace led from start to finish in game one, but the Lady Tigers played much better and with lots more intensity in game two despite losing 25-20.

“I thought we came out really flat in the first game and between sets I told our girls that we have a nice crowd here supporting us, so use the things that are on your side and control the controllable,” McClain head coach Cierra Bolender said. “I think in the second set we came out and played very well, so I was really impressed with how we came out and played in set two.

“Miami Trace’s head coach (Doug Mace) is definitely a legend and he’s so knowledgeable and nice and has really helped me in my first year of coaching varsity. I think he got his 400-career victory last week.”

Coach Bolender continued to speak about the match against Miami Trace.

“Our serving has been one of our strong suits this year and it’s been steady and working for us, especially in the second half of this season,” she said. “After the first set I started mixing up some things, playing a lot of different combinations and that seemed to work better.

“My girls really adjust well to quick changes that I put in and always step up and fill any roles that I ask of them and that’s nice to see especially with a young team like ours.”

McClain will play next on Thursday, Oct. 2 when they host Hillsboro (senior night) before hosting Paint Valley on Saturday, Oct. 4 at noon.

The Lady Tigers closeout the regular season with a final home game against Westfall on Wednesday, Oct. 8.