Conchs go to 5 games, but fall to Mater
E-Mail this story
Print this story
The Key West High School volleyball team's season ended Wednesday afternoon when the Conchs lost to Miami Norland in five games in the opening match of the District 16-4A tournament at Mater Academy in Hialeah.
The scores were 21-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-22 and 12-15.
"All the games were pretty intense," said a disappointed coach Jessy Hulme, who had expected the Conchs would win and advance to the state playoffs for the first time in school history. Instead, they finished with a 5-11 record after a 3-0 start.
"We had a great week of practice, and I thought we were ready," Hulme said. "We played a team that was not as good as us."
Key West, the second seed behind Mater, had expected to play Westland Hialeah, but found out at the last minute that Norland would be the opponent. The Conchs had defeated Norland in three games in September.
"They had an extremely athletic team and looked a lot better than when we played them the first time," Hulme said. "Still, we should have won."
The Conchs have evolved to where they can run an offense and a defense, rather then just playing helter-skelter -- but that sophistication worked to their disadvantage Wednesday.
"Running a defense requires players to switch positions," Hulme said. "Norland was just hitting the ball straight back over the net before our girls were in position."
Junior Jess Bodmer led the Conchs with 58-for-60 hitting and three kills. Sophomore Britney Price, the team's most improved player, connected on 48 of 50 passes and had five kills. Sophomore Laura Garcia added three kills.
It was a tough loss, especially for Bodmer, who has been a starter since she was a freshman and Hulme was the new coach. They have formed a special relationship, to the point where Bodmer visits Hulme's family in Ohio during Christmas break.
"I feel so bad for Jess," Hulme said. "Since Day 1, she has played with intensity, but she can't do it by herself."
Key West, whose five victories were four more than it won in each of the past two seasons, will have all of its players back next year. "We have a lot to look forward to," Hulme said.
