CROTHERSVILLE

Crothersville’s volleyball team got off to a good start, but couldn’t keep up the pace as they fell to West Washington 20-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23 on Monday.

In the first set, the Senators jumped out to an 8-5 lead before Maddie Riley served the Tigers into a 12-8 advantage.

After the Senators closed the score to 12-11, the Tigers went on a 7-1 run to take a 19-12 lead.

The Senators rallied to close 21-20 but the Tigers pulled away for the first set win.

Tigers coach Linda Luedeman attributed the win in the first set to running a new offensive set.

“In the first set we were running a new offense for us and it was a 6-2,” Luedeman said. “We had our bigger girls at the net all the way around. That helped us out on the blocking. I think that was probably the highlight of the match for us.”

“It was a new offense and we got a little rattled. We’ve still got to work the kinks out of it.”

The visitors jumped on top 10-1 in the second set before the Tigers, behind the serving of Lacey Hall, pulled even at 10-10.

The Senators came right back with a 7-0 run to lead the rest of the way.

They also got off to a quick start in the third set at 9-2.

Crothersville pulled to within 12-10 on a kill by Nikki Hickman.

The Tigers trailed 18-15 later in the set but that was as close as they could come.

The Senators opened a 9-4 lead in the fourth set before Crothersville rallied to close to 9-8 behind the serving of Maddie Riley.

The Tigers trailed by one before the Senators secured match point.

“I’d like to compliment my girls for not giving up,” Luedeman said.

Riley was 22-for-22 with one ace serving and Abby Mains finished 13 of 13 with three kills in attacks.

The Tigers (0-2) travel tonight to Orleans.