The P.K. Yonge and Eastside volleyball teams entered their match on Thursday night winless this season.
P.K. Yonge left Herman “Pop” Williams Gymnasium at Eastside feeling a little better about themselves as the Blue Wave went on big runs in the middle of each set to sweep the Rams, 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 26-24).
Ruby Hampton, a seventh-grade middle blocker, led P.K. Yonge with 14 kills and senior Malia Bukata added eight digs as P.K. Yonge improved to 1-3 while Eastside dropped to 0-6.
P.K. Yonge assistant coach Dominic Lucas was doing most of the coaching this week and during this game as head coach Chancie Vice, who had been dealing with an illness this week, was sitting on the sideline.
Vice talked about the youth of her Blue Wave team.
“Our starting outside is a seventh grader,” Vice said. “We aren’t close to being developed as a team yet. And only maybe 10 to 20 percent of our players play club volleyball.”
For Lucas, who is in his third year as an assistant for Vice, he was ready to fill in.
“It was fun stepping in and getting the girls engaged and ready to play,” Lucas, who is in his third year as an assistant for Vice, said. “We want them to see the success as well, and the girls on the varsity team are able to set their own demeanor and how they act on the court.”
Eastside jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the opening set, but P.K. Yonge went on an 8-0 run run to pull ahead 12-7, and the Blue Wave never trailed again. Eastside did get within 14-12, but the Blue Wave went on another 6-0 run for a 20-12 lead and held on from there.
Eastside came out on fire in the second set, going up as much as seven points at 12-5. The Blue Wave took a timeout, then scored the next nine points to take their first lead of the set at 13-12. The Rams did regain the lead at 16-15 after an ace, but P.K. Yonge went on a 10-2 run to pull away for a 2-0 lead.
“It’s not a long game, it’s a fast game, and there are going to be bumps and hiccups in the road,” Vice said. “With our youth, it’s important to be able to handle that and not give up on our game.”
Senior Anijah Goss led Eastside with seven kills and Neeah Mewborn added five kills.
The Rams are off until next Tuesday when they host Lake Weir (Ocala) and P.K. Yonge will travel to Fort White on Wednesday.
