The Pioneers started with confidence
in the first set. Set one was close up to a 10–9 lead for NI. Andrew Schilling
served the Pioneer team ahead to a 14–9 lead. With Micah Herron outing balls
away at the net, NI seemed to have control and won 25–20. Set two had NI fall
behind early by five to six points. Sketchy passing and limited offense put NI behind
by scores of 19–12 and 19–23. A timeout at this point had the NI side being
encouraged to have a “passionate pursuit of the ball and a determined effort to
score.” A series of challenges at the net was won by the Pioneers, and the
score was tied at 24–24. Poor ball handling and decision making ruined the
comeback effort, and set two was lost 24–26.
Sets three and four had the same
problem appear for the NI side. Poor serve receive and limited setter options
kept the Pioneers from playing IRIS (in rhythm/in system). Coach Herron
summarized, “Our serve receive really put pressure on our setters (Justin
DeLizo and Travis Jacobs); we forced some things and at times had no offense at
all. I can’t coach the guys that choose not to play; I can only work with the
ones that come to compete. The important thing to remember is that we lost the
match, not our life! I know some guys who win the match but end up losing their
life!”
NI plays at home on Friday, February 11, at 7:30 against UW Oshkosh and then on Saturday, February 12, at 1 p.m. against Concordia
University-Wisconsin.