MUSKEGON TWP. - Things have been looking up for the Reeths-Puffer volleyball team this season.
With a unique combination of more experienced seniors and juniors, along with a handful of talented sophomores and freshmen, the Rockets have battled and won 15 matches so far, three more than the team won in 2024.
So naturally R-P was hoping to be a bit more competitive when it got into the thick of the tough O-K Green conference schedule, after struggling badly against tough conference opponents in recent years.
And that’s why the Rockets were so disappointed with the outcome of their rivalry match on Thursday against conference opponent Mona Shores.
R-P's Lexie Danz (2) tries to get the ball past an opponent. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The Rockets played tentatively, made a ton of unforced errors and fell to the Sailors in three quick sets, 25-7, 25-15, 25-9 at R-P’s Dan Beckeman Arena.
Reeths-Puffer fell to 15-13 overall on the season and 1-3 in conference play.
Certainly R-P respected Mona Shores going in, but of all the tough teams the Rockets have to play in the O-K Green, they thought the Sailors might be one they had a chance to beat.
Mona Shores came into the match with an 11-10 record and five losses in its last six matches.
R-P's Mairyn Peterson goes airborne for a shot. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“We definitely had higher expectations tonight, and we definitely did not show our full potential,” said R-P head coach Justin Birr. “We played them at the Fruitport Invitational and it was much closer. They didn’t do anything different, we just didn’t execute.
“We thought this might be one of our better shots to upset somebody, but it just didn’t happen tonight.”
The very tall Sailors, who feature 6-foot-2 seniors Maddie Russell and Laynie Russell, controlled the match from the start and never really let up on the gas.
They piled up lots of kills and served plenty of aces, and took full advantage of the Rockets’ error-prone play.
R-P's Carlee Bowen dives to keep the ball in play. Photo/Jeremy Clark
They led 10-1, 15-5 and 20-6 in the first set before putting it away.
The Rockets put up a bit of a fight in the second set. They took a few early leads and only trailed 14-10 at one point, but then Mona Shores took control by winning the next seven points.
The third set also started out close, but the Sailors led 10-4, 15-6 and 20-9 before sealing up the match by winning five straight points.
“I think our flat start hurt us, but even in warmups we seemed a bit off,” Birr said. “We need to come with more energy from the start. It was probably the least energetic I have seen them this season.
R-P's Peyton Radel blasts a shot. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“That might say something about who our opponent was. Maybe it gets into their heads a little bit.”
Birr said he would tell his players to take whatever they could from the match and put it behind them.
“Mentally store this away, learn a few things from it, we will work on a few things in practice and look for more success in our next few matches,” he said.
Abby Machinski and Peyton Radel led the Rockets with four kills apiece. Kate Tindall had nine assists and five digs while Carlee Bowen had eight digs.