Breck Volleyball Swept By Visitation

Breck again found out Tuesday what it will take to become one of the top teams in the Tri-Metro Conference.

The Mustangs struggled with returning serves, digging out returns and getting into an offensive flow in falling 25-7, 25-13, 25-8 to Visitation.

It was the fifth loss in six outings for the Mustangs (2-6, 2-3 Tri-Metro Conference), but coach Holiday Samabaly is seeing improvement in her young team.

“Our team compared to last year has really improved,” she said. “Coaching this team how to want to win is the hardest thing. We were in the bottom three in the conference last year, so just the confidence from that is challenging."

Breck plays two seniors, five juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen and Samabaly believes playing a team like Visitation shows the Mustangs what it will take to move up in the standings.

“They’re doing stuff that a lot of our girls don’t even recognize,” Samabaly said. “It’s a step-by-step process.”

Visitation (9-3, 3-0 Tri-Metro Conference) went up 8-3 in the first game and never took their collective foot off the gas. They led 7-1 in game two and were comfortably ahead throughout the final game as well.

Remaining upbeat, Samabaly said juniors Nailah Hill and Sarah Koop are playing well in the middle. “They’re hitting like .400, .450 consistently, so I can’t complain about that. It’s just a matter of getting them the ball.”

Senior Mackenzie Dolan had a solid night at the net against the Blazers. “She’s my captain, and she’s got a lot of heart.” Samabaly said. “She’s one of those girls who coming into the season I wasn’t expecting a lot, but she’s proved me wrong.”

Noting that Breck has already played many top conference foes, Samabaly said she wants to see the Mustangs win at least half their matches down the stretch.

That begins Thursday at home against winless Blake at 6 p.m., and next Tuesday’s home match with St. Paul Academy & Summit, a team with one win in five outings entering play Tuesday.