Chiefs fall at home to Hanford

Moses Lake High School’s volleyball team finished its first full week of games of the season on Saturday at home, a loss, 3-1, to visiting Hanford High School.

The Moses Lake Chiefs fell behind early in the first set of the match with some miscommunication and errors. They trailed 12-5 after the second timeout by head coach Jennifer Gering. After trailing 21-6, Moses Lake made a run but ultimately fell short in the first set, 25-14.

In the second set, Moses Lake trailed again but made a run and tied the set at 15-15. The Chiefs then pushed past Hanford to take the set comfortably, 25-19.

In the third set, the scoring went back and forth until the visitors pulled away and took the set, 25-20, and the lead in the match at two sets to one.

Moses Lake’s scoring kept up with Hanford for the first half of the fourth set, but then fell behind and lost, 25-16.

The Chiefs moved to 0-3 for the season. They fell 3-0 to West Valley High School (Yakima) and Eastmont High School early last week.

Moses Lake sophomore Raegan Hofheins was all over the court on Saturday morning, with digs to save loose balls and big kills at the net. Hofheins said she was disappointed, obviously, after the loss. But she said she feels like the team is coming closer together, which she believes will only make them better.

She said she hopes to provide a spark for her teammates with energy on the court.

“The more fun we’re having, the better we play; and always at practice, we’re always having fun, and that makes us play better,” Hofheins said. “When Jenn is coaching, she says play like you’re at practice. So, when we’re having fun, you can tell it helps us play better.”

Hofheins said she is excited to get back to a more normal schedule, facing off against opponents from their own league this fall. She said it will be better competition, which will only make the Chiefs better in the long run.

Moses Lake head coach Jennifer Gering said the Chiefs have a lot of inexperience again this season, as the team still works on picking up the pace and learning to read the court. Gering said nerves have gotten the best of the young squad at times.

Gering said it’s been tough building experience for her young team after a limited schedule last year.

“If we could have added one or two more matches before we started the league, it would have been nice, but they’ve improved every match,” Gering said. “We started out slow. We’ve got to learn to get the nerves out before we hit the floor. But they’re improving every time they hit the ball.”

Next up, the Chiefs will have another match at home on Tuesday against Davis High School. The varsity match is set to begin at 7 p.m.