Toney, Cook achieve milestones for McClain; Lady Tigers fall to Miami Trace
McClain seniors Katie Cook (500 digs) and Kylea Toney (643 kills) are shown with their teammates after Tuesday's match. (HCP Photos/Jim Jones)
The McClain varsity volleyball team suffered their most disappointing loss of the season Tuesday night in Greenfield, losing to Frontier Athletic Conference defending champions and currently undefeated Miami Trace (9-0) in straight sets by scores of 25-09, 25-09 and 25-05.
The defeat dampened what should have been a festive night for two talented Lady Tiger seniors Katie Cook and Kylea Toney, who both reached impressive milestones for their careers.
Cook, who is one of McClain’s senior captains and is a team leader who plays the important Libero position in the back row and brings a lot of excitement and energy in every match, registered her 500th dig in a tri-match last week at Unioto. She was recognized during the home match Tuesday.
Toney, who has been one of McClain’s most prolific front row hitters for four years, broke the school record against the Lady Panthers Tuesday night when she recorded her 643rd career kill in the second game of the match.
“[Last week] was fair week, and even though we only had one girl involved in the fair, it was really a very tough time period for us having seven games, including tonight, and I think it showed my girls were a little drained,” said McClain head coach Taylor Alsop.
“We just weren’t in the right spots on defense all night and when we started changing things around with some different rotations it just wasn’t connecting for us.”
Coach Alsop spoke after the match about her two senior leaders, who reached historic milestones just days apart.
“Katie (Cook) got her 500th dig in a tournament we played in at Unioto, just a huge milestone and accomplishment for her, and Kylea (Toney) broke the school record with her 643rd career kill in the second game of the match tonight,” Alsop said. “I’m really proud of both of them, I just wish we could have played better and with a little more effort tonight, but it just wasn’t our night.
“We’ve got Chillicothe coming in here Thursday night, and they’re another team that’s always at the top of our league year in and year out.”
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