MIDDLETOWN >> After opening the season with a win on the road, the Middletown Mustangs haven’t been able to capture that home magic just yet.
Healdsburg handed Middletown a 25-16, 25-16, 25-19 loss in non-league varsity volleyball action on Thursday evening, the Mustangs’ third straight loss, all on their homecourt.
“We’re playing really hard, we just made a few more mistakes than they did,” Middletown coach Vanessa Davis said.
Middletown’s non-league schedule hasn’t been an easy one. Since beating Roseland Collegiate Prep in its opener, the Mustangs have lost to Colusa (3-0), El Molino (2-1) and Healdsburg (1-2), which won for the first time this season.
“They (Greyhounds) were hungry for a win just like us,” Davis said.
Abby Hibner, a junior middle hitter who was cut from her volleyball and basketball teams in middle school, has become a force for the Mustangs (1-3) in a very short time, according to Davis. “This is only her third year of playing volleyball. She was definitely my player of the match.”
Hibner led the Mustangs with five kills and also had seven blocks.
“She’s hitting like I’ve never seen her hit before,” Davis said. “I love that girl.”
Hibner’s teammate and fellow middle hitter Taylor Griffin added a team-best eight blocks as well as three kills.
“Both my middles did a good job tonight,” Davis said.
Also for the Mustangs, setter Yasamine Heidary had eight assists.
“She’s playing hard,” Davis said. “We’re running a 5-1 right now and so she is the only setter.”
Davis said the Mustangs are headed in the right direction but simply need to reduce their number of mistakes.
“I thought we played pretty darn solid,” she said. “We’re trying to be more aggressive.”
In junior varsity action Thursday, Middletown won its first match of the season, beating Healdsburg 25-22, 25-15.
Middle hitter Rylynn Wright led the way with five kills and four blocks.
“I was able to witness my players finally come together as a team and I’m proud of them,” coach Nikeedra Davis said.
Both Middletown teams return to action Tuesday with a road match at Las Plumas.
