Staff writer
Julia Zeiner never seems like anything less than a natural on the volleyball court.
Her movements are usually swift, graceful, and powerful; and she is almost always poised and confident, as much a leader as a great athlete.
But, Zeiner struggled mightily against Hoisington and Rock Creek in the Hillsboro Tournament on Saturday.
It was perplexing to her when many of her spikes were being returned. Both Hoisington and Rock Creek did an exceptional job of double-teaming Zeiner at the net and blocking her hits back into Marion territory.
“I think she had a frustrating day overall,” Marion head coach Jim Versch said. “She wasn’t herself.”
The sheer force of her spikes, always slammed with the power of an artillery canon, were rendered useless by the constant presence of undaunted defenders near the net. Zeiner was forced out of her game because she over compensated her spikes to the left and right, sending several balls harmlessly out of bounds.
Making matters worse, she struggled to pass, especially against Hoisington.
The Cardinals won the first game, 19-25, and they were leading in the second game, 19-20. The Warriors were playing much better as a team with Kayley Heerey and Whitney Gordon supplying much of the offense. But, with Zeiner in the back row, the Cardinals continuously served right at her. The shots fluttered uncontrolled off her forearms even as she changed her positioning, a desperate attempt to correct the problem.
The Cardinals won the game, 20-25.
“I was having an off day with my passing,” Zeiner said. “Maybe they saw that and kept hitting at me.”
The Warriors took their frustrations out on Chapman. Chapman had the designation as the only defeated team in the tournament with a 0-25 record.
The Warriors won the first set 25-17 and then pitched a shutout in the second set 25-0.
Kathy Goering served for every point against the Fighting Irish.
“She was almost embarrassed when she made the 25th serve; she’s very modest.” Versch said of Goering. “I’ve never seen that before in a varsity match.”
Marion ended its day with a loss to Rock Creek, 22-25 and 15-25.