Royal ladies play well but don't get the win

ROYAL CITY — It’s hard to believe a program is improving when it continues to lose contests, but that is the case with the Royal High volleyball program.

Even against the tougher teams in the South Central A Conference East, the Knights are no longer suffering 25-2 game losses as in the past.

In such a match against always-tough River View last week, the Royal girls put up 15 points in the first game and 21 in the second. They stumbled a little in the third with six points, losing 15-25, 21-25, 6-25.

There were some blocks and some kills. They were hard to come by in the past.

McDarra VonStein led the way with four kills and three blocks. Ashley Valle added three kills, and Lizzi Miller had two.

At the serving line, Valle went a perfect 9-9, Miller did 8-8 and Alyx Ziegler served 8-9. Ziegler also had one serving ace and put up 12 assists.

“They played tough in the first two games, just could not get into a rhythm in the match,” coach Paul Olsufka said.

“The girls need to believe in themselves, that they can play with anyone,” he added. “They have shown signs of being able to compete to game points but not quite able to push through and come up with the tough win.”

According to Olsufka, VonStein has improved at blocking in the middle, and Lindsey Small has improved her hitting throughout the year.

“Again it’s a matter of being able to be consistent from one game to the next and taking the momentum they have built in one game and using it in the next to build a lead and keep pushing further; They are working hard, never giving up,” Olsufka said.

The Knights played more volleyball on Saturday in their own invitational tournament. They hosted Toppenish, Othello and Soap Lake.

Othello beat Toppenish for the crown.

The Royal girls played well and competed against all teams, but were just not able to come away with a lot of wins. They played tough in the final match of the day against Soap Lake, eventually losing in three.

The Knights were down 19-23 in the second game and came back to take it 27-25, showing the resilience to battle and win.

For the day, Ziegler had 34 assists and four kills; Taylor Freeman had 11 kills; Small had 17 kills and two blocks that scored; Jacie Phillips served 30-33 with four aces; Miller had 12 kills and VonStein had five blocks for scores and three kills.

“Happy with the way they played in the matches, good to play against bigger schools and the feeling that you competed and had opportunities,” Olsufka said.

“We enjoyed having a tournament, and I hope they continue hosting one in the future,” he added.