KINGSTON — The Buccaneers are on the right track, but their train to the win column has yet to leave the station.
Even though it doesn’t necessarily show on the scoreboard or in the Olympic League standings, the Kingston Buccaneers varsity volleyball team is pointed in the right direction.
That much was evident to KHS coach Lisa Roberts despite watching her team lose 3-1 (25-14, 25-22, 22-25, 25-11) against the Port Townsend Redskins (8-2 overall, 5-0 league) in Kingston Tuesday night. The Redskins are in second place in the Olympic League.
“We played awesome tonight and played together as a team,” Roberts said. “It was something to watch. We’re communicating better on the court which cuts down on our mistakes.”
The match was much closer than the final score indicated as Kingston easily could have won the second set, which would have forced a match-deciding fifth set due to Kingston’s 25-22 win in the third stanza.
“We’ve improved 100 percent since the beginning of the season,” Roberts said. “It’s in every area, too. From basic hitting to defense, there’s been such a difference. We keep on improving.”
Senior middle blocker Joi Niemeyer agreed. She finished with a team-high six blocks and three kills.
“Our whole team is focusing better in practice. Every practice, inch by inch we’re working at improving,” she said. “We brought our intensity level up and gave it 100 percent tonight. We knew what we needed to do and gave it everything we had.”
Niemeyer helped keep the Bucs alive in the second and third sets, spiking timely blocks and kills keeping her team close throughout.
Sophomore Ashley Redican keyed Kingston’s win in the third set unveiling three aces from the serving line. The Bucs held a 7-5 lead when Redican stepped into the serving circle and finished with a 12-6 lead when she left the line. The six-point lead proved to be the difference in Kingston’s 25-22 triumph in the third set.
“I felt like our whole team got fired up after that (winning third set),” she said. “I thought it might become a turning point in the game.”
Redican said her team competed ferociously against one of the toughest foes in the Olympic League.
“Last time we played against them they beat us 3-0,” she said. “This time we won at least one set and almost won another. Our team is better.”
Rachel Bishop tallied four aces to go along with three kills for Kingston. Stephanie Eadie and Lindsey Gard chipped in six digs apiece as well.
Roberts said the Buccaneers (0-9 overall, 0-5 league) only have two games remaining this season against Sequim (Oct. 23) and Klahowya (Oct. 30). She believes her team will pick up a victory before the season comes to a close.
“I believe we’ll get a win before the end of the season,” she said. “If we play like we did tonight, we should have no problem getting a win.”
