(Lakewood, WA) Lower Columbia was on the road yesterday, October 2, 2024, for a 7:00 pm match at Pierce. It was a tough battle, ending in a straight-set loss (0-3). Despite fighting hard, the Red Devils couldn't convert their efforts into a win, ultimately losing 20-25, 19-25, and a heart-wrenching 24-26 in the third set.
 
Set Breakdown:
Set 1: Lower Columbia got off to a promising start, taking a quick 5-1 lead thanks to errors from Pierce and a kill by Samantha Farland. However, Pierce fought back, tying the game and eventually taking the lead. Despite the Devils solid blocking (2 in this set), they struggled with errors and couldn't regain control, losing 25-20.
 
Set 2: This set saw Lower Columbia struggling to find their offensive rhythm. They managed just 7 kills and committed 5 attacking errors, hitting only .049. Pierce's defense was relentless, with 25 digs in this set alone. Red Devils fell behind early and couldn't close the gap, losing 19-25.
 
Set 3: The final set was the closest and most dramatic. Lower Columbia fought hard, with 13 kills and hitting their best percentage of the match at .179. They had multiple chances to take control, even leading 21-19 at one point. But Pierce surged ahead in the final moments, tying the set at 24-24 and then securing the win 26-24, crushing the Devils hopes of extending the match.
 
Lower Columbia's Performance:
Offense: Devils attack struggled with consistency. They recorded 29 kills but made 18 errors over the match, resulting in a modest .100 hitting percentage. Layni Brandhorst was their standout attacker with 8 kills and a .227 hitting percentage, while Samantha Farland chipped in 7 kills but faced difficulty with 6 errors.
 
Defense: On the defensive side, Lower Columbia tallied 47 digs, with libero Madi Noel shining as the team's defensive anchor, contributing 19 digs. However, the team had trouble keeping up with Pierce's more efficient attack and committed 7 reception errors.
 
Serving: The team's serving was aggressive, with 6 aces, led by Kenny Collins who served 3 aces. Unfortunately, they also had 5 service errors, which handed crucial points to Pierce at key moments.
 
Blocking: Lower Columbia's blocking game was solid, with 6 total blocks (4 solo, 4 assisted). Kenny Collins and Layni Brandhorst made key plays at the net, with Brandhorst contributing to 1 solo and 1 assisted block.
 
Key Moments:
Missed Opportunities: The Red Devils had multiple chances to turn the match around, especially in the third set, where they held a 21-19 lead. However, critical errors, including attack errors from Kenny Collins and Layni Brandhorst, allowed Pierce to climb back and eventually take the set 26-24.
 
Fighting Spirit: The team showed resilience, especially in the third set with 12 ties and 6 lead changes. Each time the Raiders surged ahead, Lower Columbia fought back, but they couldn't close out the crucial points to secure a set victory.
 
Though Lower Columbia showed moments of brilliance, their inconsistency and high error count ultimately cost them the match. They were competitive, particularly in the third set, but couldn't capitalize on their opportunities to push the match further. The team's defense and blocking were commendable, but Pierce's more consistent offensive performance and fewer errors gave them the edge. It was a match where Lower Columbia showed their potential but couldn't quite get over the hump.

The Red Devils return to the home court this Friday, October 4th, for a 6:00 pm match vs the Tacoma Titans.  Read Full Article