Saints fall to the Roadrunners

Last Friday, Mt. Hood’s volleyball team suffered a three-set loss to the Linn-Benton Roadrunners (25-16, 25-19, 25-19). The Saints had difficulty getting into a rhythm, finding themselves down early in sets.

The Roadrunners outplayed the Saints in almost every statistical category. On the offensive end, Linn-Benton recorded 34 kills to Mt. Hood’s 20, and 31 sets to the Saints 18. On the defensive end, Linn-Benton totaled 30 defensive digs and nine team blocks. Respectively, Mt. Hood recorded 24 defensive digs and six team blocks.

Despite the loss, coach Andrew Clifton saw positive play out of his team. “We did some good things,” he said. “After I watched the film a few times over the weekend, I noticed a lot of great things happening; we just didn’t finish the plays.

“So, (we are) trying to work on finishing out the rallies a little bit better and being conscious when we’re on runs of points and how to keep possession of the ball when were doing that,” he said. “We just had a lot of unforced errors at the wrong time.”

Sophomore Saints setter Rachel Woodcock had similar thoughts on the Linn-Benton match. “We performed well, it just wasn’t our game,” she said. “But practices have been going well and I think next time we play them we will be much more prepared.”

The loss dropped Mt. Hood’s record to 2-2 in conference play, and 9-16 overall.

The Saints take on the South Region leading Clackamas CC Cougars tonight in the MHCC gym at 6 p.m. The Cougars (4-0 in conference play, 19-7 overall) play a similar game to Mt. Hood, said Clifton.

“They have strong outsides (outside hitters), like most of the teams. They’re scrappy, but nobody has that one dominant player that’s just going to take over,” he said. “There are a lot of really balanced teams in the South. It just depends on style of play and how that matches up and who is on that night and not on that night.”

Heading into the Clackamas match, the coach’s focus is playing consistent, clean volleyball. The outcome will be a good indicator of what Mt. Hood is capable of this season.