The Fort Calhoun volleyball team lost three straight sets at home against Ashland-Greenwood on Thursday.
The Pioneers lost 3-0, losing the second set by the smallest margin — 25-22. They dropped the first 25-12 and the the third 25-17.
“We upped our communication by a lot,” FCHS senior Grace Genoways said of the second. “I know we had a lot better attitude and Mollie Dierks is, like, the power source of all of that. She picks us up a mile-a-minute.”
Trying to capitalize on the tight second, the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead in the third set. Ashland responded, retaking the lead before Genoways evened the score at 8-all with a kill.
The Bluejays went on a scoring streak, though, building a 20-12 lead at one point. Back-to-back Dierks serves made it a 20-14 match, but a Genoways kill and a Olivia Quinlan service ace down the stretch weren't enough for a Fort Calhoun comeback.
The loss dropped the Pioneers' season record to 6-9, while Ashland-Greenwood improved to 8-8 overall.
“We definitely need to be a lot smarter with the ball,” Genoways said. “We just need to know where to put it and not just shove it into the block. But I think we're getting better at that as we grow as players.”
FCHS was scheduled to play at Douglas County West on Monday and next competes Saturday when it hosts an eight-team tournament beginning at 9 a.m.
