The 2020 season began over the weekend for the Vipers 16U Red squad with a competitive finish at the SPIRE All Divisions Challenge in Geneva.
Despite a 1-7 record on the weekend, the Vipers made each of their opponents work for the win.
“The entire team really stepped it up and played very well,” Vipers coach Molly Zeigler said. “We played very aggressively all day and never gave up. We fought hard all the way through the last match. It was fun to watch the girls get so excited when they would get a kill or make a good play. Everyone did a great job of keeping everyone’s spirits up.”
The Vipers picked up the first match win in club history during Sunday’s bracket round with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Eastside Volleyball Club.
“It’s so exciting to have the first win in Vipers history,” Zeigler said. “The match against Eastside was one for the books. With a short and quick third game to 15 we knew we had to come out strong and stay strong. We did just that. Finishing the third set winning 16-14 truly showed the heart and passion the girls have for the game.”
Each player had her moments throughout the two-day affair.
“Lindsay Schaefer was dominant in the back row and being able to read and move to where the ball was going to be,” Zeigler said. “Lindsay Hissa was a very strong player all the way around, making a lot of great defensive plays as well as many smart plays from the front row. Breanna Andre made many smart plays all weekend and had a strong block and serve. Gabby Nemeth had money passes all weekend long. Almost every ball that came to her was passed right to the setter. She was a dynamite server and defensive player.”
Zeigler was especially pleased with how the Vipers never hung their heads and constantly encouraged each other to make the next play.
That helped the squad compete in each set.
“For being the first tournament, I am extremely impressed with how competitive each and every girl played. No one got down on themselves and used other teammates to help pick each other up,” Zeigler said. “I am so extremely proud and impressed of every single player. Everyone played their hearts out all weekend and never gave up or got down on themselves or teammates. ‘Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference between volleyball success and volleyball failure.’”
