By Richard Polen
sports@joplinglobe.com
JOPLIN, Mo. —
Carl Junction led throughout in the third game and defeated Joplin 25-19, 16-25, 25-16 in a nonconference season-opening volleyball match Tuesday night at Kaminsky Gymnasium.
In the deciding third game, Carl Junction led 17-9 when spikes by Joplin’s Jessie McMullen and Beth Cox fueled a rally that brought the Lady Eagles to within 18-14 and ignited the home crowd. Carl Junction finished by scoring the last four points of the match.
“That first game is always a nail-biter,” said Ashley Hill, who is in her first season as Joplin’s head coach. “It’s good to finally see where the girls are at as far as how they play as a team.
“It was a rough first game, but I’m so proud of my girls.”
Carl Junction raced to a 22-11 lead in the first game only to see the momentum swing to Joplin. The Lady Eagles went on a 7-1 run and trailed 23-18 before two kills by Carl Junction’s Katelyn Joyner, who had a team-high six assists, ended the game.
The second game was nearly a mirror-image of the first. Joplin overcame a 12-11 deficit and played its best stretch of the night in taking a 22-14 lead.
“We made so many service errors and hitting errors, but those are things we can fix,” Carl Junction head coach Sarah Wall said. “I was pleased with our passing game and our defense.
“We just need to work on being more consistent,” she said.
The Lady Bulldogs, ranked No. 9 in Class 3 by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association, face a familiar opponent Thursday when they travel to Republic.
The Lady Tigers, who compete in Class 4 this season, defeated Carl Junction in the Class 3 sectional round of the state playoffs a year ago.
Mackenzie Valenti led Carl Junction against Joplin with five kills, Rickie Lea Duley had three blocks and Mikenna Eberhart had three digs. Mikenna Eberhart had 12 service points.
Danielle Walker led Joplin with six kills, and she and Allison Cox each had eight digs. Chloe Hadley had eight assists, and Bayley Strella had seven assists and 15 service points.
Joplin, which won the junior varsity match, 25-19, 25-16, plays at 6 p.m. Thursday in a nonconference match at Neosho.
“We know exactly where we are and where we need to be,” Hill said, “and we know exactly how to get there.
“It was a great crowd. The girls were excited,” she said. “We hope they keep coming out and support us. We’re going to get better.”
