ADNA — Moral victories isn’t a phrase commonly used for Wendie Dotson. And she isn’t introducing it anytime soon.
The multi-decade leader of the Adna High School volleyball team kept it blunt on Tuesday night.
“We had it,” Dotson said. “I would have liked to be able to put down the ball more at the very end. That is a learning experience for us.”
Despite leads of 4-0 and 10-5 in the decisive fifth set, the Pirates weren’t able to shut the door and Shelton came through with a 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 18-16 triumph in a non-league heavyweight bout in Adna.
Both of Adna’s losses have come in five sets against higher classification teams – Castle Rock (1A) and Shelton (3A). The Highclimbers had four chances at match point and the first three were staved off.
A long attacking error by the Pirates put an end to the two-plus hour contest. They had inconsistencies with their passing and were victim to a bevy of different serves from the Highclimbers.
Although Dotson’s sentiment remained, she was proud of her girls’ grit to get to a fifth set.
“They did things we worked on, especially serving wise,” Dotson said. “We’re trying to put the pieces together.”
Set three ended up as a precursor for Adna (1-2).
With libero Hadleigh Gerard at the service line and Kamryn Freeman on the outside, those two were the catalysts of a 6-0 spree that gave the Pirates an 11-9 lead. Freeman had three kills in that stretch and Gerard had an ace.
Then Shelton answered emphatically by scoring 15 of the next 21 points to get to set point. Adna cut the margin to 24-22 before the Highclimbers finished off the set to take a 2-1 lead.
“That is a mature thing to see and it is good to see that,” Dotson said.
Adna and Shelton went back-and-forth in the penultimate set with five lead changes and seven ties. Freshman Ella Nicholson took over at the end with four kills, including the set winner, as part of her six-kill night. She also had six digs and six aces.
“She is so calming, she’s not ruffled,” Dotson said of her outside hitter. “She is becoming a star.”
Alyssa Carroll, the Pirates’ lone all-league selection from a season ago, posted 16 kills, 10 digs and three aces as an all-rotation player. After years of running a 5-1, they’re going back to a 6-2 with Kylinn York and Taylor Johnson.
Those two combined for 25 assists and in the back row had a total of 25 digs. Elsewhere, Freeman had six kills, five aces and nine digs while Gerard registered seven digs.
“I like 6-2 better when we have that opportunity,” Dotson said. “They are still learning (to play with) each other.”
Freeman notched a kill and an ace then Shelton committed a net violation to give Adna the opening set. It crept to within two points multiple times in the second set before the Highclimbers sealed it.
The Pirates take on Northwest Christian (Lacey) on Wednesday then Montesano on Thursday before getting their first taste of what the C2BL will be this season. Toutle Lake, Mossyrock and Napavine will be their opponents in non-league games.
Adna’s C2BL opener is Oct. 6 versus Mossyrock.
“I’m hoping we can be right towards the top,” Dotson said. “They have the ability.”
