Baker volleyball posts 3rd win
Ida Baker volleyball coach Rene Van Horn is encouraged by the balanced attack the Bulldogs are showing early this season. It continued in Tuesday’s three-game sweep of visiting Estero, 25-12, 25-19, 25-19.
If there is a concern, it’s the occasional lapses in concentration, leading to what Van Horn described as “silly errors.”
In all three games Tuesday, the Bulldogs jumped out to a comfortable lead, but then had to refocus after the Wildcats tightened things up.
“It was a victory, yes,” Van Horn said, “but it was not Baker volleyball. It wasn’t that we got overconfident, but just a couple mental errors happened and we started to cave.”
The Bulldogs regained control, as they did in last Thursday’s four-set victory over South Fort Myers, and improved to 3-0.
Senior setter Deonnah Findley provided a consistent serve throughout, finishing with five aces, to go along with 10 assists.
Seniors Taylor Van Horn (five kills, four blocks), Chelsea Shafer (five kills) and Taryn Maymon (four kills, three blocks) were among the numerous contributors.
The Bulldogs have seven seniors, who bring a wealth of experience, and three sophomores that played on varsity as freshmen.
Senior Stefanie Creamer has returned to the lineup after missing her junior year, helping out defensively and in the passing game, while a newcomer to the team, senior Chelsea Gomer, continues her steady defensive play coming off the bench.
Chelsey Cline and Findley confused the Wildcats (3-1) with their serves at the start of game one and it helped the Bulldogs build a 7-1 lead.
Estero charged back, getting within three at 13-10, but the Bulldogs closed that game on a 12-2 run. Maymon and Van Horn had consecutive blocks to trigger the spurt.
After the Bulldogs went up 5-1 in game two, the Wildcats mounted their most serious threat, tying it several times, including 14-14.
Clinging to a 16-15 advantage, the Bulldogs closed it out on a 9-4 run.
In game three, the Bulldogs led 21-13 but the Wildcats scored six straight to cut it to 21-19.
Left-hander Cicely Sanders, who led the Wildcats with five kills, helped the comeback effort with her serve.
The Bulldogs went ahead 22-19 when Estero blasted a shot long. Sophomore Kali Nordquist followed with an ace, making it 23-19, and the Bulldogs scored the final two points to finish off the sweep.
“When it was on the line we came scratching back. That’s how it was at South Fort Myers,” said Van Horn.
The Bulldogs travel to Cypress Lake Thursday.