COLUMBUS — A straight-set win seemed like a near formality for Columbus volleyball after dominating in the second set of their match on Tuesday against West Lowndes.
Up 15-11 at the time, senior Riya Patel stepped up to the service line and rattled off seven straight aces to put the Falcons up 22-11, ensuring a second set victory.
The match tightened considerably in the third set, however, as the Panthers took a 16-14 lead with a chance to advance to a fourth set. Eventually, a Columbus comeback late in the third secured a sweep and a 3-1 start to the 2023 season.
“I’m not happy with the score because I feel like they got too relaxed,” Columbus head coach Jessica Davis said. “I just think sometimes, we get too relaxed in the game and we think it’s an easy win. That’s what happened in that third set.”
Some mental lapses hurt the Falcons and allowed West Lowndes (1-2) to gain momentum and have life late in the match.
Columbus struggled on the serve and couldn’t find much rhythm, but on the other side of the net, the Panthers had trouble finishing the set.
“The communication was off,” Panthers head coach Ashley Clark said. “We started off rocky because people were not in place like they were supposed to. They weren’t communicating to each other and it threw the match off.”
Credit is due to both teams for the level of play in the third set, which saw several closely contested points.
“We were definitely struggling mentally,” Patel said. “Everybody was frustrated. They weren’t talking, but I tried to get the team together and encouraged them to keep going and learn from their mistakes.”
For West Lowndes, it’s back to the drawing board to work on communication, a consistently inconsistent part of Tuesday’s loss.
For Columbus, this hot start is something to build upon for the future. As non-district play continues, these early-season wins are crucial for tough district competition ahead.
“That success definitely builds up momentum for us,” Patel said. “It encourages us to keep practicing hard and keep winning.”
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