CM ends Jersey's season at Triad
BY AARON OTTIS
SPORTS EDITOR
TROY – Jersey's 2008 volleyball campaign came to a close Thursday when Civic Memorial defeated the Lady Panthers 25-15, 25-19 in the first round of the IHSA Regional at Triad High School.

The Lady Panthers had played Civic Memorial just a week before, taking a loss in three games at Bethalto to end the Mississippi Valley Conference season. That match allowed Jersey coach Bob Siemer to develop a game plan that could push the Lady Panthers into the next round, but the Eagles' ability to adjust on the fly made the difference Thursday.

"I thought we had the right attitude in the match. We started strong each game and as has been the case all year, the other team got a hot server and we couldn't handle it," Siemer said. "We were ready to play, we just came up a little short."

That hot hand was Katie Dyer, who scored 12 points on 15 serves.

Jersey had hoped to counteract Civic Memorial's tendency to have a one server score a long string of points by rearranging the lineup. Siemer moved Shelby Smith into the rotation so she would move to back line just as CM's Dyer, Cassie Endicott and Kylie Neal would serve. The move was supposed to give Jersey a better chance to pass forward and attack, and cut into CM's possible long scoring streaks.

Siemer also worked with his team to put three blockers on the front line. It was a move deemed necessary to control the Eagles' attack at the net.

"The additional blocker worked well until CM adjusted to it and then we did not do a very good job of moving around to deal with their offense," Siemer explained. "We did a good job in the back row coming up for the short kills we anticipated, but our play at the net wasn't as efficient as we'd hoped. It's tough to use a system that the team hasn't used all season, but they gave it their best."

Smith led the Jersey offense with four points, and Kelsey Thomas and Jade Linder chipped in three points each. Rachel Ward and Leah Sherman had two points apiece; Shelby Woelfel had one point.

Jersey ends the season at 4-23 overall, 1-9 in the MVC. The Lady Panthers tied for last place in the Conference this year, but it should be noted that Jersey won twice as many games in 2008 as '07, and lost by much more respectable margins this season as well.

The Lady Panthers did have three lengthy losing streaks during the middle of the season, including two five-game streaks and one seven-game streak.

"I thought at the start of the season we had progressed from lst year. However, in the middle of the season I think we went a little flat. I am to blame for that stagnation," Siemer explained. "At the time, I thought we were moving in the right direction and so we did some things in practice that got us away from what was helping us improve. We stopped practicing the basics as much as we had, and because of that I think we reverted back to some old bad habits and it cost us a few matches. This is not the fault of the players; they did everything we asked of them. It's just that the coaches tried to get them to run before they mastered walking. We won't make that same mistake in the off-season or next year. Our basic skills will get better and we will work on them each and everyday that we are together."

Siemer said the coaching staff is pushing for the girl's to hit the weight room this season. Jersey is looking to get stronger and faster, and improve the team's vertical leap so as to be more effective around the net.

The team has a legitimate chance to win between 6-10 matches next season, depending on how much improvement is made in the off season.

"We are looking for any improvement. We realize we have a lot of work to do and we will roll up our sleeves and get going in the off season," Siemer said. "We will have the girls in the weight room much more. This will not only make us stronger, it will help with our vertical jump, footwork quickness and speed, give us a better attack shot and much more. We will lift more, be on the floor more and have a ball in our hands more this off season. The girls do everything we ask of them and because of their effort and attitude, we will see improvement for next year."