"We didn't show up to play." said Head Coach, Justin Hoskins. "Our girls were timid and shell-shocked from the very first serve. There is nothing positive to take away from this match. This match is going to be a turning point for us this year though. Either we're going to learn how to work harder, play with confidence, make individual and team adjustments and make a push in the upcoming weeks or we're going to limp to the finish line. We'll find out what kind of athletes and people we have in our program by the way we finish the season."
What looked to be an exciting matchup on paper as the 25-3 Tigers travelled to the 25-2 Iowa Western Reivers, turned out to be anything but exciting if you're a Tiger fan. The Reivers opened up an early lead on the Tigers and never looked back as they earned the sweep with scores of 25-15, 25-14, 25-8.
The Tigers couldn't get anything positive going against the stout Reivers. The struggles started in serve receive where the Tigers gave up 13 service aces, which is the most they have allowed this season and almost three times the amount of aces opposing teams are averaging per match. Serve receive wasn't the only area that struggled as the setting and attacking games fell well below season averages as well. While averaging nearly 11 set assists per set entering the contest, the Tigers averaged just 3 per set on Tuesday night while recording 13 kills with a -.123 hitting percentage. Entering the matchup with the #2 Reivers, the Tigers had not hit negative in a single set of their 90 played. However, on Tuesday night, the Tigers recorded negative hitting percentages in each of the three sets played.
The Tigers won't have long to lick their wounds as their back on the road Thursday night against ICCAC DII opponent, Southwestern Community College for a 7 PM matchup.