HOHENFELS, Germany – It’s only two weeks into the 2014 DODDS European volleyball season, and already Vilseck is looking like a team to beat.
The Falcons were nearly untouchable on Saturday, rolling over Hohenfels 26-24, 25-18, 23-25, 25-10 and then Ansbach 25-11, 25-22, 25-13 during a tournament held on the Tigers home court.
Amira Murry and Kaylee Luginbuhl anchored Vilseck through their seven games, the later with impeccable serving – at one point going on an 11-serve, three-ace tear – and Murry with 14 kills and three aces on the day.
“She’s our terminator,” coach Brian Swenty said. “There’s a reason we call her that. It’s nice to have somebody who can end those rallies.”
Swenty’s squad looked calm and collected throughout the entire day, and there’s good reason for that. All 12 of the varsity players are veterans of the Vilseck volleyball program, either from being called up from the JV squad, or from carrying over from last year’s team.
“We’re doing pretty solid for having so many JV players,” Murry said. “They’re really stepping up. We all know that to win we just have to play our game. We have to play Vilseck volleyball.”
The Cougars bounced from their loss to the Falcons, winning in three straight - 25-13, 25-22, and 25-15 – over Baumholder, which went winless on the day.
Ansbach coaches Ashley Spoor and Desma Colburn spoke to the team in between matches, visibly calming the nerves of some of the younger players.
“We weren’t playing at our level,” admitted outside hitter Sarah Holt. “But we came together against Baumholder and we won.”
If the Cougars can recapture the confidence they showed against the Bucs, they’ll be a force to reckon with as the season progresses. The same can be said about the Tigers, who bounced back from their thrashing at Vilseck’s hands with a definitive series of wins of their own against the Bucs.
Hohenfels dominated in three straight games, winning 25-11, 25-11 and 25-12. Tisha Williams had 18 service points and an ace, Amelia Health and Ariana Hannah combined for 14 kills and Maia McDaniels scored on 14 serves with three aces.
“We just kind of lost confidence and then that just made us down, so it affected our play,” McDaniels said. “We won the second one and I’m proud of us. I’m ready for next week, I’m excited.”