West Opens Districts With Win Against Rival East

The Jaguars volleyball team started out its post-season on a high-note with a 2-1 victory over the Lions in the first round of the Class 4, District 8 Tournament at Fort Zumwalt South High School. 

The Jaquars improve to 18-12 with the win. The Lions finish the season with a 20-9 mark. 

“We were just outplayed,” Lion coach Michael Loyd said. “They came out here and took care of business. We had a few players who were off their game. They outplayed us plain and simple. Congratulations to them.”  

The Lions won the first game 25-22. A solid early showing helped East’s cause, as it came out and established a 5-1 lead. It continued to control the lead throughout the middle of the game.

Yonne Nasimiyu’s kill gave the Lion’s a 13-5 advantage. While East never lost the lead in the later part of the game, the Jaguars started to mount a comeback. An East serving error made the score 23-17. A four-point serving run from West’s Ariana Linnenbrink narrowed the lead even more, as the Lions held a 24-22 advantage. Kylie Ellison’s kill gave West its 24th point. But the Jaguars couldn’t sustain the momentum long enough to win the game.

The second game was a close affair until the middle part of the game, as it was tied up at 1,2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 points.  A two-point run made the score 14-13 Jaguars. West never lost the lead for the rest of the game; Ellison’s five point serving run made the score 22-16. West won the second game 25-18. 

West controlled the serving game throughout most of the contest. West coach Jill Plassmeyer felt the serving was key to the win. The Lions committed six serving errors while West had three.  

“We kept our serves in the court,” she said. “We were serving very aggressive. It makes a big difference.” 

The Jaguars started out the third game with a three-point run to make the score 3-0. 

The game was tied up once at seven points. Then West grabbed the momentum with a four-point run to make the score 11-7. Chelsey Jackson’s kill gave the Jaquars their 10th points. West continued to own the lead in the third game and won 25-19. 

Plassmeyer also felt her team’s blocking made a difference. 

“When we get those touches from the blocking, it really helps our defense,” Plassmeyer said. “They get there and close the block, it helps the back row.” 

Ellison and Kayla Hamilton led the Jaguars with six kills. Sophie Jackson finished the night with four blocks. 

“I just really wanted to get every block that I could and put down every hit,” Jackson said. 

West will play Francis Howell in the second round of district play today at 5 p.m.