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Left:
Ansonia junior Jerica Twaits goes high for a kill Tuesday at The
Battleground.in the Tigers
3-2 Cross County Conference victory over the
Patriots. Right: Patriot senior Raya Mikesell stood tall
as a senior
leader, willing the Patriots into a fifth game with her serves. The
Patriots seemed to rally
around her but fell short in the end. CNO
photos by Jodi Mikesell
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Ansonia topples
Tri-Village in five
Tigers remain undefeated in CCC play
By George Starks
NEW MADISON- The Ansonia Lady Tigers went to 2-0 in Cross County
Conference play Tuesday, downing Tri-Village in five sets, 25-11,
17-25, 25-23, 11-25 and 15-9.
On a night when it was back and forth after the opening game, Ansonia
coach Jason Hemmelgarn pointed out some of the more obvious things.
“There were times when we had our ups and downs,” said Hemmelgarn.
“There were times when we looked really good and times when I could see
our weaknesses and the things we need to improve on.”
After the first game drubbing, Patriots coach Rebecca Steck made some
changes that upended the Tigers attack.”
“You have to give the Tri-Village coach a lot of credit,” said
Hemmelgarn. “They really started to hit the corners against us and that
made us change our defense. It’s tough to beat Tri-Village here. They
have a great crowd behind them and the low ceiling kind of make you
change the way you play the ball. Tis has always been one that’s been
on my radar as the one to get.”
Winning a match in The Battleground speaks volumes for Hemmelgarn.
“Winning here means we’re taking steps toward where we want to go,”
Hemmelgarn stated. “I felt like if we played well and we matched
up well it was a 50/50 chance we win. If we can win those 50/50
matchups and win the games we’re supposed to win, I think that’s where
we want the girls to get to. It means a lot going into the rest of the
season and hopefully we can build on this.”
Throwing up the 25-11 first game win, Hemmelgarn thought things
were going his way and it was looking good for his girls.
Game two saw the Patriots comeback and with four games in the books, it
took the fifth games to decide it all.
“We came out flat in the second game tonight. I kind of reminded me of
the third game at Bethel,” Hemmelgarn admitted. “Tri-Village came out
with a lot more intensity then we did. We have to put back to back good
games together. I’m not sure was so great about that fifth game that
made my kids play so well. We got off to a good start though. We missed
a couple of serves early which gave them a good chance to get a lead
and get ahead of us. I’m proud of the way my girls played in the fifth
game and I was very happy with the way we passed the ball.”
With Hemmelgarn be ecstatic over the victory, Steck was not so pleased
even though her team was never out of the match.
“We talked about being ready to go at the beginning of the games before
the first set,” said Steck. “The fact that we rebounded was great but
I’m not happy that we waited until the second set to get it going. We
had moments when things were really working for us but we need to work
on our consistency.”
The sluggish start allowed Steck to point out the things the Patriots
need to do if they are to change their season around.
“We have to be ready to go at game time,” said Steck. “We need to talk
and be ready to go and get out of the gates quickly.”
With the win, the Tigers go to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
Ansonia will host Newton Thursday in a key conference match-up.
The Patriots, 2-8, 1-3, will host a three way match Saturday with
Stivers and Troy Christian.
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