The Columbia High School volleyball squad started off the season with a pair of loss to its cross-county foes during the Columbia Classic and attempted to get back on track last week.
However, the Wildcats dropped two of their three matches and are still searching for the right balance. They hosted Sumrall Aug. 7 and competed better than the 3-1 final indicates.
The Bobcats won the first two sets convincingly 25-17 and 25-15, but the Wildcats bounced back for a 25-17 win to force a fourth set. Columbia nearly forced a fifth set, but Sumrall pulled it out at the very end with a 26-24 set win to secure the match.
Columbia carried that momentum to Hattiesburg Aug. 9 and captured its first win of the season in a 3-1 defeat of Sacred Heart. The Crusaders were able to claim the first set 25-23, but the Wildcats ran away with the final three 25-21, 25-16 and 25-23.
But then Columbia took on Hattiesburg on the road Saturday morning and was swept 3-0. The Tigers dominated all three sets 25-19, 25-11 and 25-11.
The Wildcats were at South Jones Tuesday night, but results were unavailable at press time. They will return home Thursday for a rematch with Hattiesburg at 6 p.m. Head coach Scott Fitzgerald could not immediately be reached for comment.
Pictured Above: Columbia senior Lauren Hill rises to spike the ball. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
