By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

BROOKS, Ore.–  The Perrydale Volleyball team rebounded from their first defeat of the season to Delphian with a 25-23, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of Willamette Valley Christian on the road to open Casco League play Tuesday.  Having to rally back from 19-15 down to take the first set before using their serving game to build a 23-11 set two lead on the Warriors.

Coming off of their loss to the Dragons and their slow start of the game due to little mistakes in communication, the Pirates buckled back down going into the second set and were able to weather the storm that they were going through.

“We got it back together and figured it out.  (The last two games) have really helped us.  Delphian really showed us what we were kind of lacking, so Delphian really helped us with that,”said Perrydale junior Ivy Janesofsky. “As a team we’re just slowly getting more-and-more bonded and as the season goes on, we’re just going to get used to communicating with each other naturally and it’ll just come.”

Willamette Valley Christian finished the set strong as the Warriors still are looking for their first set win of the young season, having steadily improved throughout their first three games of the season going into their Thursday game at Livingstone Adventist Academy.  The Warriors have been hit hard with the injury bug to start the season, but Head Coach Elisa Hunter is pleased with how the team is adjusting to the fly as they are.

“We’re still regrouping because we had some injuries and everyone’s pitching in, filling in the holes as a team.  But everyone’s getting mentally stronger, knowing the game better and having better teamwork, so they’re learning how to run a tempo offense and learning new spots, quicker level of attacks and stuff like that,” Hunter said.  “We want to get better with quick tempo offense so we’re not just playing defense, we’re going offensive with our serves, with our attacks and any balls that are giving through-balls…we’re taking advantage of them and reading the offense, reading the defensive holes and just playing ahead of the ball.”

The Pirates started slow in the third set, but turned an early 5-3 deficit into a 17-11 lead.  Willamette Valley Christian drew back to within two, 18-16, before Perrydale pulled it together to finish the sweep for their fourth win in five games.

“It was very nice to just calm down.  I think everyone gets a little in their head and as the season goes on that’ll go away.  We won’t have to worry about that anymore,” Janesofsky said.

The Pirates head to Jewell Wednesday for their second Casco League game of the year before hosting C.S. Lewis Academy on September 13 at 6:30pm.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald