Eagles struggle at Central Heights

RICHMOND -- Uniontown's volleyball team found the going tough at the Central Heights Invitational here Saturday.

The Eagles won only two of their five matches, although two losses were to Class 4A schools.

"This is always a tough tournament for us," Uniontown head coach Jackie Hall said. "The competition in this tourney is tough to say the least.

"I always look at this tournament as a test to evaluate where we are heading into postseason. We certainly have some things to work on but they are all things we are capable of correcting this week: Serving, blocking, coverages and communication."

The Eagles (30-5) defeated Kansas City Christian in their first match 25-17, 25-19. Jacy Ermel had 9 kills and Jessie Camac bad 4. Tayler Shook dished 14 assists and Tiffany Poyner was credited with 24 digs.

Uniontown followed that with a 25-16, 25-20 sweep of Class 4A Osawatomie. Ashley Nietfeld had 8 kills, Ermel 7 and Camac 5. Shook had 21 assists and Poyner 22 digs.

Class 4A Girard defeated Uniontown, 25-13, 22-25, 25-20. Ermel had 13 kills, Shook 23 assists and Poyner 37 digs.

Central Heights downed the Eagles, 25-16, 25-8. Shook had 9 assists and Poyner 20 digs.

In the final match, Carbondale-Santa Fe Trail, another 4A squad, swept Uniontown, 25-19, 25-17. Ermel, Camac and Hayden Rathbun had 3 kills each. Shook had 11 assists and Poyner 27 digs.

"We struggled at serving," Hall said, "which, for the most part, has been a strength for us. We were not holding serve for any amount of time and just couldn't seem to get into any flow in our offense. We were just trading serves and rotating.

"We made some changes in our blocking scheme and when we executed, it worked. When we forgot or were late, the other team usually scored."

The Eagles will play tonight at Pleasanton in a non-league triangular to conclude the regular season. Marmaton Valley will also be present with the first match starting at 6 p.m.

Saturday, the Eagles will play in the Northeast-Arma Class 3A Sub-State Tournament.