Haskell Varsity Volleyball lost to the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes and the Missouri Valley Vikings on Sept. 23. Haskell lost game one to the Coyotes, 0-3, and game two to the Vikings, 1-3. Haskell now sits with its longest losing streak of the year: six in a row.
Game one started strong as Haskell took an early 9-3 lead before the Coyotes first timeout. Haskell held the lead until losing late in the set at 18-19, triggering a race to the end. Set one was tied at 23-23 off a Mya Dalgai kill — the sixth tie of the game — before Haskell lost 23-25.
Set two saw Haskell fall behind early, with their last chance to take the lead being 3-3. Haskell would stay behind, losing set two 16-25 in the only non-dramatic finish of the game.
Set three would see Haskell fall and come back multiple times, with Haskell down 5-10 and then tying it up 10-10, and the other time happening at 13-17 before tying it up 17-17. Haskell would battle until they were up 22-20 before the Coyotes had a run of their own, handing Haskell a set and game loss in a 0-3 sweep.
Stat leaders from game one were Jim with eight kills, Dalgai with two aces, Haily Kelsey with five blocks, Jaspen Ellenwood with 11 assists and Alaina Dugi with 20 kills.
Game two started with 10 ties before Haskell would fall behind 17-13 and needed a timeout. Haskell would come out of the timeout and would immediately need their second timeout, falling further behind 21-13. Haskell would mount a comeback, 19-23. A kill from Dalgai landed near the line and elicited the Vikings’ head coach to curse at the referees, bringing the game within three. The comeback was short-lived as Haskell fell 20-25 and lost set one.
Mecca Goldsberry, on the Vikings coach getting emotional and how they try to stoke the flames, said, “When a coach or player is getting mad on the other side, we wanna keep pushing towards them.”, She continued by describing what their plan is to keep pushing that person: “In volleyball people spiral, so when someone starts going down you can start picking at the team”
Set two would see Haskell’s only lead come from an early ace at 5-4 scored by Aubree Savage. Haskell would quickly fall behind, losing the set 14-25.
Set three would see Haskell tying the game seven times before jumping out into the lead 13-11 with kills by Sandra St. Clair and Kelsey. Haskell wouldn’t look back and kept the lead for the rest of the set. Haskell won 25-18 with the set-sealing kill coming from Dalgia.
In set four, Haskell would be down 7-16 fast, needing their first timeout. Haskell would not be able to surmount a comeback, losing 18-25, and leaving the sets 1-3.
“As a player, when the crowd gets involved and actually hype with the game, it means a lot because it’s like we actually have people here to support us and that want to watch us and watch us win”, said Goldsberry.
Haskell will be back in Coffin on Oct. 19 at 7 pm against the Coyotes, aiming for revenge after their Game 1 loss.
Table 1. Sept 23 Game 2 Player Lead Statistics
| Statistics | |||||
| Player | Ace | Assist | Block | Dig | Kill |
| Alaina Dugi | 27 | ||||
| Aubree Savage | 2 | ||||
| Tressa Jim | 8 | ||||
| Jayla Flient | 8 | ||||
| Jaspen Ellenwood | 16 | ||||
| Mya Dalgai | 5 | 8 |
Table 2. Sept 23 Game Day Player Lead Statistics
| Statistics | |||||
| Player | Ace | Assist | Block | Dig | Kill |
| Alaina Dugi | 47 | ||||
| Aubree Savage | 2 | ||||
| Tressa Jim | 16 | ||||
| Brianna Mitchell | 2 | 8 | |||
| Jaspen Ellenwood | 27 | ||||
| Mya Dalgai | 2 | 9 |
