Bison's day 2.

Day 2 Adjustments were made and seemed to be working.  Just sticking and trusting game plan is important.  We started the line-up that we finished with one exception, Kellie, Jaryn, Larissa, Tori, Chloe, Meaghan and rookie Brianna as the libs. 

As a coaching group we felt that this ball control line up would work for us.  We also spent some time with the middles talking about taking risk and looking at trends that Manitoba runs in each set.  We did a very good job on defence and blocking.  We struggled offensively; we were down 14-11 when Becky made a double sub. Jenna and Claire came in and brought us back to a 19-18 lead.  Kellie and Tori came back in we were riding a high.  But a missed serve and 4 hitting errors cost us the set 25-21.  But blocking we had held both Tricia and Kristy to even 3 kills and 4 errors.

Second set Becky decided to reward Jenna for fighting back for us and she got her first ever set start in the CIS.  The team responded and came out flying, we jumped out to a 9-5 start.  Then we got stuck in a rotation. It was suddenly 9-9 and we struggled with passing.  I was watching in the crowd and I commented, if we can get the ball to even go forward we have a chance.  We shanked or passed straight up 4 balls.  Then we got a bad match up with Kristi Hunter matched up with Jenna and Kristi had success swinging at and over her.  This adjustment made our defence a little more difficult.  We fell down 14-12 when we doubled subbed.  Kellie brought us back to tie it up at 16.  Then a serving error and a hitting error on our side we found ourselves down 18-16. WE battled back to a 19 all tie.  We had really found a way to limit Tricia and our serving and trouble balls had kept her out of the match.  Now with the set on the line we became happy to put the ball in play and their libero Nicole Hall was able to take over the match.  Suddenly we were serving her and they were in system, then when we were in trouble we started to just put ball in play to 5 where Nicole played.  Tricia was able to score 4 of their next five points.

Then the wheels fell off.  Becky made a good choice and changed the line-up around for the third set.  She started Jenna, jaryn, Tori, Claire, Lexi, Meaghan,Chloe at libs. We then forgot what we have been working on as our identity.  We really want to be the team that it is difficult to play against.  We want the opponent to earn all their points.  We try to do this by making wise choices and pt the other team in trouble.  This set we had 11 attacking and 3 serving errors. Manitoba just had to earn 11 points on their own.  This was a tough lesson for us.  Mentally we need to be better and need to be aware of situations.
Jaryn and Meaghan each had 10 kills and a hitting efficiency over 30 percent

Lessons Learned

1.        Believe in self and keep trusting new strategies

2.       Remember what we stand for, make the other team earn points

3.       Better perform on the floor because we are deep enough to bring people off the bench

So back to the drawing board, learn from this and work hard to get ready for Winnipeg.  Even though this is the second weekend of the year, it could be the make and break point for playoffs.  We are still on strike so the prep still falls to Becky and the team.  They have done a great job so far... Go Bobcats