It was a tale of two teams following the conclusion of Tuesday night’s district volleyball match between rival school’s Jay and Central. The Royals are currently 1-0 in district play after defeating the Central Jaguars 3-1. While Jay is currently 3-0 for the beginning of the season, the Jaguars are off to a rocky start with a 1-3 record.
Although Jay won the early season match up, Central kept the scores of each set close through the night. While the Royals won the first, third and fourth sets at 25-16, 25-22, and 25-23, Central won the second set at 25-18.
“They have pretty good players,” said Scott Campbell, Jay’s head volleyball coach. “If you give teams like that a chance, they will beat you.”
Although he was pleased his team was able to pull out a win especially in the fourth set, Campbell said Tuesday night’s performance was not Jay’s best.
“I thought it was sloppy,” he said. “I would rather win playing sloppy than lose playing pretty.”
Campbell plans to have his team address the errors made in Tuesday night’s match up along with improving back row passing and keeping the ball in play.
“All this game is about is ‘don’t mess up’” Campbell said.
Campbell said the Royals will face another district opponent in an away game against Laurel Hill School on Thursday.
Central will also be playing on the road on Thursday at Pensacola Christian Academy. Coach Michelle Smith said the conclusion of Tuesday night’s match up brings another close loss for the Jaguars.
“We beat Northview in three straight (sets)and then we went to Rock Bayou (Christian School) and again it was a close match,” Smith said.
Smith expects tough competition from the district this season.
“Most of our district is going to be pretty close this year,” she said. “I’m hoping that we are going to be some tight matches, some will hopefully go to five.”
The Jaguars coach said the season is still early and there is plenty of work still ahead.
“The girls are hitting well and we need to work on basics skills, passing, transitions, things like that.” She said. “But it is early in the season and we will keep working.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Volleyball: Jay tops Central for first district win (UPDATED)