Loss at Breckenridge learning step for Ladycats News Staff Fri, 08/30/2024 - 8:50 am
(MIKE WILLIAMS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Newcastle sophomore Kinzee Forbus (22) and junior Catherine Youngblood (10) jump together at the net to try to block a ball that went over their hands during the team’s game Tuesday, Aug. 27 against Breckenridge. 
(MIKE WILLIAMS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Newcastle junior Flor Carranza gets down on the floor to dig out a hard-hit ball during the Ladycats’ 3-0 loss to Breckenridge this past Tuesday, Aug. 27. 
(MIKE WILLIAMS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Newcastle’s Ladycats prepare to receive a serve during their game Tuesday, Aug. 27 against 3A Breckenridge. 
(MIKE WILLIAMS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) The Newcastle Ladycats talk to their head coach Ashley Archer during a timeout Tuesday, Aug. 27. The team traveled to Breckenridge for a match but ended up taking a 3-0 loss to the Lady Bucks.
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Newcastle volleyball head coach Ashley Archer saw potential in her young team and created a non-district schedule that would challenge them in many ways.
While there’s a lot of season left to play, the Ladycats’ early portion of the schedule brought them a tough match-up against Class 3A Breckenridge this past Tuesday, Aug. 27. Newcastle’s girls gave it their best effort but fell in a 3-0 sweep to the Lady Bucks.
It was a battle all night for the Ladycats that saw plenty of highs and lows.
Newcastle got down early in the first set but tied things up at 3-3 thanks to a Breckenridge error and a kill from junior Sophie Terrell. However, the opposing Lady Bucks began to pull away from there.
The Ladycats lost control of things early on as Breckenridge used multiple small runs to increase the lead to 17-12, which forced a Newcastle timeout. Archer’s team struggled with some of Breckenridge’s serves, as the Ladycats allowed five aces in the opening set, which the Lady Bucks ended up winning 25-14.
Despite the struggles in the first set, Newcastle came out ready to fight in the second. Breckenridge again took an early advantage 6-2, but the Ladycats used a 5-1 run to tie things up at 7-7. A service ace from junior Catherine Youngblood and a kill from sophomore Kinzee Forbus gave the Ladycats their first lead of the match at 9-7.
Both teams battled back and forth for the rest of the set, with Breckenridge regaining the lead at times, but neither team having the ability to pull away. The score was tied at 24-24 before the home team pulled ahead and claimed the win on a dagger of an ace to take it 26-24.
“We had like the deer in the headlights look in the beginning and I think we realized we could compete with them,” Archer said. “I think we did a really good job of competing in the second set. I’m really proud. We pushed a lot of points and…I don’t think they really realized it. I feel like when we’re just having fun and communicating we’re doing a really good job. When we start worrying about the score, you can really tell.”
Newcastle took the early lead in the third set thanks to efforts from Terrell on the offensive side of the ball. It didn’t last long, however, as Breckenridge tied the score at 4-4 before going on a big run to take a 14-9 lead, which forced a timeout.
The Ladycats didn’t have the juice to get closer as the Lady Bucks went on to win the third set 25-18 and the match 3-0.
“We said early in our schedule that we may struggle,” Archer said. “We may lose some games, but as long as we’re learning everytime we step on the floor that prepares us for district and the playoffs. So we know that we’re playing competitive teams, but I think they have that mindset of looking to the future.”
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