Blazers bitten by Bulldogs

APRIL 25, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM?

In a complete reversal of last week's 3-0 victory over Wheaton, the Blazers lost to Churchill in straight sets today when they started having trouble with serves and blocks.

The coed game started immediately after the boys' game, where Blair lost for the first time this season to Churchill. Blair's coed team followed suit with another first ? it was the first loss this year in straight sets. The coed Blazers netted their first serve and, after serve-return and a long volley, dropped the ball. The team's early points illustrated the futile and unusually inaccurate efforts of the Blazers through their 20-25, 23-25, 11-25 match against Churchill.

According to senior Tina Yang, Blair slipped in the first set by netting too many serves, the one skill that is not reactionary but completely under the Blazers' control. Most of the Blazers believed that they were much more organized in the second set. Blair was dominated in the third set with successful Bulldog blocks and aces.

Freshman setter Julie Zhu was all over the court from the onset of the game. Zhu dove to many successful saves, made forearm passes and set numerous balls over the net. According to Zhu, the main problem Blair faced was blocks. "Blair needs to learn to hit around or tip over, like Adrian was doing well, the blocks," said Zhu. "We also need to learn how to save the blocks that the other team does make."

Senior Zack Koerper put Zhu's concerns more bluntly and stated, "Their two defenders crushed us."

Arguably Blair's most consistently accurate player, senior Yang spoke of the issue of inconsistency in today's game. "We were just off. They were the more consistent team," said Yang. "We knew they were going to be good and they were good."

Coed volleyball will next go to Northwood on April 29 at 5:15 p.m.