Lakeview drops home opener to Seward

COLUMBUS -- Lakeview showed all the signs of a volleyball team playing their first game of the year.

The Viqueens showed a lack of rhythm early, committed their fair share of unforced errors and the fact that they opened the season against a strong offensive Seward squad didn’t help either.

The Bluejays spoiled the Viqueens’ home opener by recording a 25-11, 25-12, 21-25, 25-16 decision Thursday at Lakeview High School.

“We made too many unforced errors tonight,” Lakeview head coach K.C. Belitz said. “You can’t have that many service errors and communication problems and expect to do well.”

Lakeview (0-1) jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first set, but watched it evaporate when Seward’s Grace Smetter served for a five-point rally.

By the time Lakeview snapped the run, the Bluejays’ offense was just getting started holding an 11-7 advantage.

Seward (1-0) quickly won back the serve a point later, and that is when junior Miranda Wisehart put the set out of reach.

Wisehart served for a 10-point run that was highlighted by two ace serves.

The Bluejays command on offense carried over in the second set. Sophomore middle hitter Emily Cady recorded four kills in the set and junior Sydney Deboer added two.

“We have a lot of players we can turn to on offense, and I thought we were well balanced tonight,” Seward head coach Tom Pallas said. “We had a lot of energy and put in a good defensive effort.”

In search for a comeback after the rough start, the Viqueens looked far from an easy pushover in the third set.

Lakeview senior outside hitter Hannah Fadschild led the charge collecting four kills, the last of which sealed the set giving the Viqueens new life.

“Thank goodness we did win that third set,” Belitz said. “We needed to show some mental toughness.”

Sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Saalfeld, who finished the match with four kills, said the team was nervous early, but found a groove in the third set.

“It helped when they made some errors and we corrected on ours,” Saalfeld said. “That fired us up on offense and helped us pick up the set.”

The celebration would be short lived as the Bluejays settled down and got back to its offensive form. Unfortunately Lakeview returned to the way it played the first two sets as well committing nine errors and two net violations.

Deboer’s three kills and junior Zoie Smetter’s four propelled Seward to seal the set and the match.

“Seward is a nice team on offense,” Belitz said. “What really surprised me was that they also played tremendous defense.”

Belitz’s squad will be in action at the Scotus Invite Saturday in Columbus. Lakeview opens with David City Aquinas 10 a.m.

Seward (1-0) 25 25 21 25

Lakeview (0-1) 11 12 25 16

• KILLS: S -- Sydney Deboer 11, Taylor Aegerter 4, Emily Cady 5; L -- Brea Muhle 9, Ali Luckey 2, Chelsea Saalfeld 4.

• ASSISTS: S -- Miranda Wisehart 17; L -- Luckey 18.

• BLOCKS: S -- Cady 6, Deboer 3, Zoie Smetter 3; L -- Joelle Pillen 4, Muhle 2.

• ACES: S -- Wisehart 2; L -- Muhle 4.