The district schedule didn’t start the way the Lady Ducks wanted it to, dropping a three set match to district rival Caldwell Tuesday night.

Caldwell is a year removed from a district championship and a trip to the state tournament. Taylor finished second last season, but both are in rebuilding years.
The Lady Ducks were timid early in the match, falling behind to start the first set 0-5 before a Taylor timeout.

“I think our girls came into the game looking at Caldwell as last year’s champion and a team that made it to state,” Taylor head coach Holly Turnbough said. “But there not, and it took us a set to figure out we could play with them.”

Caldwell overwhelmed a mentally unprepared Taylor team throughout the first set. A timeout settled down Taylor, as the Lady Ducks got on the board and traded points until 3-8.

An ace by Kristen Cuba cut the lead to 4-8, but another rally by Caldwell stretched the lead to double digits by the time Taylor had eight points. The Ducks have made comeback rallies already this season, but it was not to be in set one, as Caldwell closed out the opening set 25-12.

“We weren’t mentally ready to play the opening game,” Turnbough said. “That has been a problem for us, so we changed some things in practice that obviously didn’t work.”

Set two began in similar fashion to the first with Taylor falling behind 0-3. Caldwell was up 7-2 before a Taylor timeout. Unlike in the first set, Taylor awoke after the break in play. Cuba again helped her team with well placed serves, scoring three straight points to cut the lead to 6-9.

Both teams alternated points until Taylor came alive with a four-point rally for the Lady Duck’s first lead of the match, 11-10.

Taylor couldn’t hold off Caldwell, however, as the two teams traded points until they were tied at 17. The Lady Hornets regrouped, led by power hitters Allison Alford, Vantazia Jackson and Sondra Flippin. Caldwell outscored Taylor 8-1 to take set two 25-18.

“We finally learned how to play volleyball in set two,” Turnbough said. “We lost the set, but I was pleased with our play. If we fight like that every time out, good things will happen.”

Turnbough’s squad continued its improved play in the final set. The Lady Ducks ended up dropping the set 25-18, but they were in each point. The teams battled back and forth until the serve of Caldwell’s Melissa Cumby increased the lead to 11-6.

Katelyn Kuhl’s serve brought Taylor back within one at 12-13. The Lady Ducks even tied the game at 15, but Caldwell was too much down the stretch. They outscored Taylor 10-3 to close out set three and take the match.

Taylor has a week off before its next district game. The break is something Turnbough is looking forward to.

“We are beat up and it will help us get healthy,” Turnbough said. “We’ve been going none stop since the schedule began so it should be a good thing.”

The district schedule won’t get easier for Taylor. Caldwell is no longer the undisputed favorite in district. Bryan Rudder and Cameron Yoe are much improved.

“There won’t be an easy game this year in district,” Turnbough said. “The teams at the bottom of the standing last year have all their players coming back so they have the experience advantage. We’re going to have to fight for a spot.”

Taylor continues the fight Tuesday with a road game in Madisonville. The freshmen game begins at 5 p.m.