It was a great test Tuesday when Mineral Point took on Platteville in a SWAL/SWC non-conference test.
The Lady Hillmen won in four sets but the Pointers made sure it was not easy.
Game Scores (MP score first): 11- 25, 25-21, 21-25, 20-25
Pointer head coach Kari Kabat said the match was a true challenge.
“The home opener proved to be a challenge for us, as we struggled to build and maintain momentum throughout the match,” Kabat said. “There were definitely moments where we showed what we are capable of, but we couldn’t string together enough consistent plays to overcome our own errors against a very good Platteville team. They are well-coached, scrappy defensively and powerful offensively, and tonight our inconsistencies simply made it difficult to gain control.”
There were some bright spots for the Pointers, though.
“Ava Ingwell had an outstanding night for us, making excellent reads and coming up with some big plays to keep us alive at critical moments,” Kabat pointed out. “We also made defensive adjustments throughout the match, particularly against Platteville’s outside attack, and saw improvement as the night went on. Closing more consistently on the outside will be an area we continue to work on.”
“Tenleigh Bockhop also had a great night,” Kabat continued. “She is being asked to play multiple positions while we work through some injuries, and she continues to embrace whatever our team needs. She found some powerful shots offensively, did a great job at the net and brought great energy to the court and our huddles. Her leadership is really beginning to emerge, and that combination of composure and energy will continue to make a big impact on our team.”
Kabat saw some positives even with the loss.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted in our home opener, but there were plenty of positives to build on,” Kabat said. “We know what we need to clean up, and we’re excited to get back to work.”
Stat Leaders:
Kills – Brynn Swenson 18, Kinlee Prust 5
Assists – Sophie Miller 20, Sadie Miller 14
Aces – Tenleigh Bockhop, Brynn Swenson, Sophie Miller 1 Blocks – Tenleigh Bockhop, Kinlee Prust 3
Digs – Ava Ingwell 18, Bree Swenson, Thimea Leclef 9