McClain volleyball drops match against Logan Elm in 3 sets

GREENFIELD — The McClain varsity volleyball team lost in three sets to a really good and experienced Logan Elm team Tuesday night in Greenfield.

The Lady Tigers have just five seniors on this year's team and only two have a lot of varsity experience.

Logan Elm took game one by a 25-16 score and led from start to finish.

Senior Molly McCune was a bright spot for McClain in that opening game serving while registering an ace.

Game two would be the most exciting and competitive game of the match but the Lady Tigers still dropped the set by a slim 25-22 margin.  Serving leaders in the second set for McClain were Alaya Jackson and Allie Havens.

In the third and final game of the match the Lady Braves once again led from start to finish and were never really challenged in winning by a big 25-7 final.

“We all know that the third set wasn’t our best set tonight,” McClain head coach Cierra Bolender said. "We looked the best we’ve looked in a good month in the second set. We’re coming back from, a couple of injuries and despite all the moments of adversity I thought we looked pretty darn good in that second set against a really good program.

“I thought we served pretty well at times and that was one of our game goals but at the same time it feels like when everything goes wrong that’s when our serving is worse,” continued Bolender. "So, we need to push through those moments and the mental part of the game is going to be our biggest challenge going into these next couple of weeks.

“We need to keep pushing and try to figure out where things need to be.”

MHS totaled 13 kills in the loss with Brynlee Karnes leading with six, followed by Jackson with three, Brylee Douglas with two, and having one kill each were Brooklyn Bolender and Adalynn Snyder. 

The Lady Tigers also had 13 aces in the three sets with Jackson totaling four. Next was Havens with three, Snyder finished with two, Karnes also had two, and gaining one ace each were Bolender and McCune. 

McClain’s blocks leader was Karnes with three. 

Recording digs for the Lady Tigers — they finished with 23 as a team —  were Bolender (seven), Snyder (three), Shelby Wise (three), Karnes (three), Jackson (three), Havens (two), Douglas (one) and McCune (one). 

Assists were credited to McClain’s Havens (seven), McCune (four) and Snyder (one) as the Lady Tigers totaled 12 assists for the match. 

McClain now (1-2) on the season will travel to Zane Trace on Thursday, August 27 for another non-conference game before returning home Saturday, Aug. 29 to host a tri-match with Fairfield and East Clinton.