Jackson volleyball team sweeps Kennett

The Jackson volleyball team was feeling confident and communicating more than it had all season in its sweep over visiting Kennett on Monday.

Jackson won the first set 25-13, but had trouble closing out the Indians in the final set before emerging with a 25-20 victory.

"We had a great practice on Saturday and I really think that carried over into tonight," first-year Jackson coach Tracy Robinson said. "We had great communication and confidence from everyone tonight, and even when we were overly confident we found a way to hang around and make a comeback. I admire that and am really proud of the way this team is playing."

Jackson (7-5) built an early 8-2 lead in the first before Kennett (10-4-2) called a timeout.

Jackson sophomore Hannah Hunt put down two consecutive kills right after the timeout to extend the lead to 10-2.

Jackson's Hannah Hunt, center, celebrates a point against Kennett with McKenzie Scott, left, and Olivia Leible during the second set Monday, Sept. 22, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Two Kennett errors and a service ace delivered by Jackson senior McKenzie Scott started a 7-4 run by Jackson to make it 17-6. Right after a second Kennett timeout, Jackson junior Autumn Reid laid down two consecutive aces to begin an 8-7 run that gave Jackson the set.

"They played good defense down the last part of the set," Robinson said. "We kind of adjusted how we were attacking because they were starting to take our attacks. Our attackers did a good job of throwing them off by tipping the ball over at times instead of swinging all the way through. Attacking and serving have been our strong points and they really were in that first set as well."

Kennett committed eight errors in the first set, including four during the final five points.

Robinson said her team may have been overconfident heading into the last set.

Kennett got off to an early 5-0 lead thanks to two aces and sub-par defense from Jackson.

Jackson's Kali Beussink returns a volley to Kennett during the second set Monday, Sept. 22, 2014 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

"It looked like we thought we already had this locked up after playing so well and really communicating the most we have all season in that first set," Robinson said. "That's when teams start playing even better because they can see you let up on them and start to attack harder. That's where we have to get our mind set focused on staying the course and playing until you win, and our girls need to know that yes teams are going to come back and they are going to play against us right down to the very end."

The start made Robinson call a timeout.

"Our theme this year is fight so coach was just encouraging us to keep fighting and stay focused on winning," Jackson senior Maci McCuan said. "We've had a lot of matches this year where we'll be up a game and then drop two, so I think she was making sure we were in it and not falling too far behind."

The timeout proved beneficial as Jackson immediately went on an 11-6 run to tie the set at 11-11.

With the set tied at 14-14, McCuan put down three consecutive service aces to give Jackson a lead it never surrendered.

"I like serving, and when coach gives me zones to serve in I just look to find a good spot and serve it there," McCuan said. "This was probably one of my better games, because since I have such a hard serve it goes out a lot, so I was really happy to keep them in."

A kill by Jackson senior Olivia Leible extended Jackson's lead to 18-14.

Kennett coach Kristy Davis called a timeout, but it didn't faze Jackson.

Reid put down two kills and a service ace during a 5-0 run for a 23-14 lead.

"I thought our setters really distributed the ball well," Reid said. "I always want the ball, and when I get it, I try not to waste a chance to get my team some points."

Reid led Jackson with four aces and added four kills.

Kennett scored six more points down the stretch, but an error on Kennett and a service ace from Hunt sealed the 25-20 win for Jackson.

"We were kind of playing to their level in that last set," Hunt said. "They made us make some mistakes and lose the way we were playing in the first set against them, but we believed in ourselves and believed in our team and were able to come back."

Hunt led Jackson with seven kills and also had two blocks in the win. McKenzie Scott and McCuan had nine assists apiece, while Kayla Thurman had 13 digs and three aces.

JV -- Jackson defeated Kennett 25-16, 25-14.