Crusaders finish strong in tourney
Spikers win final four games at tough Adidas event
Concordia Lutheran weathered a storm of injuries to show well at the Adidas Texas Volleyball Invitational last week.
The Crusaders went 5-3, winning their last four games in a promising finish.
“We got put probably in the second-toughest pool, because we were ranked so low to begin with, and so Day 1 set our path,” coach Kim Odinga said. “But we played well on Day 1 against Aledo, and then (the match with) No. 1 San Antonio Churchill was probably one of our best showings, even though we lost.”
Churchill clipped them 25-12, 25-17 before Concordia Lutheran’s signature win of the tourney.
The Crusaders took on Friendswood, which placed third in the silver bracket, and won 23-25, 2518, 25-18.
“It was a close battle through the whole thing,” Odinga said.
“It went to three games, so it was pretty much tough hit for tough hit, and our defense stepped it up.”
Concordia Lutheran went into the tournament without setter Adria Martinez, a Rice pledge, forcing freshman Isa Zelaya and junior Sam Boatman to step up, and they filled in nicely while Martinez was out.
Libero Maddie Kmiec, a junior transfer, junior outside hitter Gabi Zelaya and senior defensive specialist Laura Shelton also played well.
“(Gabi Zelaya) was our most dynamic offensive threat, continually putting the ball away,” Odinga said.
The Crusaders didn’t play as well as a team
against Flower Mound Marcus.
They lost middle blocker Kat Pickrell to a broken hand right before the match, forcing them to try a new middle.
Pickrell is out at least a month with her injury.
“That’s one of the losses we wish we could have taken back,” Odinga said.
The setback sent Concordia Lutheran to the copper bracket, where it finished strong, beating New Caney (25-16, 25-12), St. Thomas Episcopal (2515, 25-12), Nederland (2624, 25-17) and St. Stephens (28-26, 23-25, 25-20).
But it also lost its most dominant middle, senior Tori Jenks, to a shoulder injury.
“It was a good learning experience for us,” Odinga said.
“We have a lot of depth on the bench this year, and it’s caused a lot of people to change positions. We have another starter, Faith Dowling, who’s able to play any position and can go all the way around.”