Focusing on the basics

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Andalusia coach Angie Grimes said in order for her team to be successful in today’s match against Providence Christian, the girls will need to focus on the basics.

“Fundamentals, that’s where I hope it will come together for us because we’re making too many errors that in this game, you can’t do,” Grimes said. “I think our offense looks good. We’re running our offense well. We’ve got to work on our serve-receive. We’ve got to build our confidence up about that, and I think we’ll be okay.”

The Lady Bulldogs competed at the 26th annual Amelia Rhoades Set-Off Tournament Saturday in Kinston, where they finished 1-2 in pool play.

Andalusia was in the same pool with the host team, Holy Spirit and Opp, and competed in the best 2-out-of-3 match ups.

The Lady Bulldogs fell to Kinston in the first game 19-25, 25-19, 23-25; lost to Holy Spirit 20-25, 12-25; and beat Opp 25-18, 25-2.

“The Kinston Set-Off Tournament is always a season opener for a lot of teams,” Grimes said. “I’m pretty proud of the girls overall for the day.

“Of course, we had a lot of — as well as other teams — passing and just technical errors, fundamental errors that just aggravate coaches.”

In addition, Providence Christian was also at the Kinston tournament in Pool B with Enterprise, Russell County and Zion Chapel.

Providence Christian advanced to the championship game against Enterprise, and fell 24-26, 16-25.

Grimes said she is anxious to play Providence Christian today.

“We’re looking forward to playing them,” Grimes said on Monday. “They’re a good school. They provide good competition for us.”

The match today will kick off at 3:30 with the junior high team.

Kinston 2, Andalusia 1

Andalusia’s A.C. Riley led the Lady Bulldogs in assists with 40, and added 16 service points and two aces; Shi’Amber Townsend led with 12 spikes and four kills; Ellie Pollock contributed with six service points and 12 passes; Erica Staley had six spikes and three aces; and Alison Daniels had five aces.

Holy Spirit 2, Andalusia 0

Riley led her team in assists with 23 and had four service points; Townsend had five service points, seven spikes and three kills; Daniels had six service points, four aces; seven passes and five spikes; Staley had seven service points, four passes and four spikes.

“They are a good fundamental team,” Grimes said about Holy Spirit. “Of course, I felt we should have done better playing them.”

Andalusia 2, Opp 0

Riley led her team with 20 service points, five aces and 23 assists; Townsend had eight spikes and four kills; Pollock led in passes with 13, along with one spike and two kills; and Daniels had two spikes and five kills.