Losses to Waukon, Starmont and North Fayette Valley last week dropped the MFL MarMac volleyball team to 15-10.

The Bulldogs, who defeated the Indians at a tournament earlier this season, fell to them 21-25 and 21-25 in a triangular at Starmont on Sept. 21. Waukon was buoyed by 98 percent serving and a kill efficiency more than double MFL MarMac’s.

Blair Winter and Lily Johnson led the MFL MarMac offense with a respective nine and seven kills, while Nora Rasmussen contributed four. Addison Corlett dished out 21 assists.

The Bulldogs’ back row was busy, with Kensey Ball collecting 17 digs and Johnson 11. Rasmussen picked up six along with one of the team’s three blocks. Corlett and Kambry Keehner had the others.

Macy McGeough was MFL MarMac’s top server, completing all 10 attempts and half the team’s eight aces. Gracyn Welch was 8-for-8 with two aces and Corlett was 6-for-6 with one ace.

The Bulldogs edged Starmont 25-23 in the opening set of their next match, but couldn’t keep the momentum rolling. The Stars won a close second set 25-23 before putting MFL MarMac away 15-11 in the final frame.

Johnson hit double-digit kills, with 10, while Winter added seven. Rasmussen and Keehner each had four.

Corlett finished the game with 22 assists and dug a team-high 12 balls. Ball netted eight digs, Rasmussen seven, Johnson six and Payton McElwaine five. The Bulldog defense earned five blocks—two apiece from Winter and Johnson and one from Rasmussen.

At the service line, MFL MarMac connected on 93.2 percent of attempts, including nine aces. Three aces came from Corlett, who hit 12 of 13 serves, and Johnson smashed three on a perfect 9-of-9 performance.

On Sept. 22, the Bulldogs hosted North Fayette Valley for their home opener. After a close first set, which the TigerHawks won 25-22, MFL MarMac struggled to keep pace. NFV won the second set 25-12 and the third 25-13.

Head coach Becky Johnson said MFL MarMac felt good about its preparation going into the match against NFV.

“On paper, our teams were pretty similar statistically, so we expected it to be a competitive night with some really good volleyball. The first set played out the way we anticipated. We struggled a little offensively, but our passing and back-row defense were excellent, and we even got a block kill, which is something we have been working hard to establish in our game,” she said. “Unfortunately, sets two and three were a different story.”

Johnson said the Bulldogs’ passing broke down, and that affected every other part of the team’s game.

“When our setter is chasing down balls, it becomes difficult to run the offense we want, and our hitters aren’t able to attack with the same confidence or efficiency,” she explained. “NFV also did a really good job at the net, particularly with their blocking, and that exposed an area we know we need to continue improving.”

This match also highlighted the importance of developing more depth within the roster, according to Johnson.

“We have a talented group, but we need players who can step in, contribute and help us weather tough stretches. Playing our first home match in front of a huge student section was something we were incredibly excited about, but I think the pressure our athletes put on themselves to perform in that environment became difficult to overcome once things started going the wrong direction. We certainly appreciate the support from our student section though,” she said.

Kills were fairly evenly distributed throughout the lineup. Johnson led the way with five and Rasmussen and Winter each had three. Five players—McElwaine, Corlett, Keehner, McGeough and Ashtyn Dundee—had two kills. Corlett dished out 18 assists.

Ball anchored the defense with 15 kills. Corlett snagged eight and Johnson six. Johnson and Winter each assisted on a block.

Serving dropped to 87.5 percent efficiency for the Bulldogs. Welch was the star of the night, hitting 13 of 14 serves, including three aces. Corlett was a perfect 8-for-8 and McGeough made all nine of her attempts, with an ace. Johnson was 5-for-8 with a pair of aces.

“It wasn’t the showing we wanted for our first home match, particularly during a season where this team has already accomplished things this program hasn’t done in several years,” Johnson said. “We were back in the gym the next day ready to work. We are putting our athletes in more situations in practice where they have to play from behind, handle pressure and find a way to reset when things aren’t going their way. We have also made some roster adjustments to give us more opportunities to provide an emotional reset when needed.”

MFL MarMac remains at home this week, hosting Central on Tuesday, Sept. 29, then South Winneshiek Thursday, Oct. 1.

“Our focus now is on learning from the match and finding ways to respond better when we face adversity,” Johnson stated.