By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Community College volleyball team came into Tuesday’s match feeling pretty good about itself.
The Jayhawks were tied for first place in the West Division of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association with only one league loss.
MCC’s No. 7 Rachel Brown on the offensive at the net as No. 2 Lindsey Jacobs gets ready for the rebound. Photo/Jason Goorman
But by the time it was over, the Jayhawks’ mood had turned sour. They not only lost and fell into second place, but the defeat came at the hands of archrival Grand Rapids Community College, the fourth place team in their division.
MCC started the match strong by winning the first set, but lost the final three sets on their home court at Bartels-Rode Gymnasium.
The Jayhawks are now 14-11 on the season and 5-2 in league play, which is good for second-place in the division, a game behind Lansing Community College.
“We didn’t show up to play,” said MCC Coach Rick Rykse. “We didn’t practice well yesterday, we’ve been lazy, we are not playing hard and it’s showed in the way we played.”
The Jayhawks got off to a hopeful start by winning the first set 25-22.
They jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed. GRCC manage to cut its deficit to two points at 9-7 and 10-8, but never got closer than that.
But GRCC turned the tables and ruined the night for the Jayhawks by winning the final three sets, 27-25, 25-20 and 29-27.
The Jayhawks’ No. 9 Hannah DeBlois goes for the kill. Photo/Jason Goorman
MCC led at least once in all three of the final sets, but Grand Rapids was able to rise up when it counted and steal the victory each time.
“We had opportunities in the second set to win, and in the third set and the fourth set, but we’re not playing hard so we’re giving up points,” Rykse said.
“The players look back and wonder, ‘Coach what are we doing wrong,’ and I tell them we’re not playing hard. We have the talent but we’re just not playing hard.”
The Raiders took an early 7-1 lead in the second set. The Jayhawks managed to overcome the deficit, taking a 17-14 lead, but the Raiders jumped back on top and finished the set with a 13-8 run.
MCC took a 10-6 lead in the beginning of the third set, but fell behind at 19-18. The Raiders sealed the victory with a 6-2 run.
GRCC jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the final set before the Jayhawks went on 15-6 run to take a 19-15 lead.
But the Raiders had the final word once again, closed out the set and the match on 14-8 run.
Hannah DeBlois led the Jayhawks with 18 kills while Rachel Brown added 15. Marissa Hassevoort had 26 digs, Jenna Pesch added 21 and Lindsey Jacobs chipped in 46 assists.
