Growth emerged but coach feels work in
offseason can help team reach a new level
By Bruce Rolfe
Galesburg-Augusta varsity volleyball coach Jonica Klimp knew her team faced a tall challenge facing the Division 3 defending state champions in the district semifinal game November 6, meaning a path for a chance to a victory would require a match with very few errors and execution throughout the game.
But in the end, Kalamazoo Christian’s height and strong play at the net combined with a few too many errors by G-A led to a sweep for the Comets, 25-20, 25-17, 25-8.
While the Lady Rams enjoyed some stretches of strong play, the home team could not sustain long runs by K-Christian, due mainly to errors or K-Christian’s strong passing that led to many kill attempts.
“The same thing we’ve been dealing with all year. We gave them too many points on missed serves, missed hits and hitting them out of bounds. It’s a mentally tough game going in to play reining state champs and K-Christian just always has taller kids,” said Klimp.
The Comets went on to defeat Kalamazoo Hackett 3-0 in the district championship game November 7.
On November 6, Hackett defeated Decator 3-2 to move into the district championship game.
The G-A coach said while it was discouraging to see the season come to an end, she admits the team did enjoy growth on the way to an 18-10-2 overall record and third place finish in the SAC Central Division.
“They did good. I think that we earned a lot of points and that was our goal this year was to earn some points and not just play defense all the time. We did earn more points than we gave away, so we’re happy,” explained the G-A coach.
Klimp hopes her team recognizes what it will take to get to the next level, starting with hard work in the offseason.
“To be at the next level, they really have to focus on awareness of their body of the court. They really just have to put work in the off season and footwork. Just covering the court because we don’t always have to have the big hitters. The most knowledgeable kids of the game. Kids that can keep it even keel on the court,” said Klimp.
The Comets never trailed in the first set, moving in front 15-4.
While K-Christian enjoyed many long runs, the Rams only registered two consecutive points twice.
G-A proved to be pesky early in the second game, enjoying a pair of two-point leads at the start (2-0 and 3-1).
G-A’s last lead came on a Comet hitting error that gave the home team a 9-8 lead.
The Rams remained close, pulling to within 18-14 on a block by Jaidyn Klimp, however K-Christian finished strong, ending the game with a 7-3 run.
G-A grabbed a trio of one-point leads early in the third game ((3-2, 4-3, and 5-4) and forged a tie three times (5-5 and 6-6, and 7-7) before the Comets took charge with a game ending 18-1 run that included a 14-0 spurt that closed out the game.
Senior Jaidyn Klimp finished with seven kills and five digs, senior Suzanne Nichols had a team high eight assists, senior Lili Thompson had a team high 14 digs and Lily Gilbert added 11 digs.
Seniors on the roster include Samantha Mobley, Nichols, Klimp, Megan Ranes, Thompson and Rhyann Wilson.
District Volleyball Semifinals at Galesburg-Augusta
Kalamazoo Christian Def. Galesburg-Augusta, 25-20, 25-17, 25-8
G-A Stats
Jaidyn Klimp - 1 ace, 7 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks, 1 assist
Suzanne Nichols - 4 digs, 1 block, 8 assists
Megan Ranes - 1 ace, 4 kills, 2 digs
Lily Gilbert - 1 ace, 1 kill, 11 digs, 1 assist
Lili Thompson - 14 digs
Rhyann Wilson - 1 ace, 3 kills, 1 dig, 1 assist
Samantha Mobley - 2 digs, 1 assist
BreAnna Keene - 1 kill
Grace Gibson - 1 dig
Addison Born - 3 digs, 1 assist
Galesburg-Augusta varsity volleyball coach Jonica Klimp knew her team faced a tall challenge facing the Division 3 defending state champions in the district semifinal game November 6, meaning a path for a chance to a victory would require a match with very few errors and execution throughout the game.
But in the end, Kalamazoo Christian’s height and strong play at the net combined with a few too many errors by G-A led to a sweep for the Comets, 25-20, 25-17, 25-8.
While the Lady Rams enjoyed some stretches of strong play, the home team could not sustain long runs by K-Christian, due mainly to errors or K-Christian’s strong passing that led to many kill attempts.
“The same thing we’ve been dealing with all year. We gave them too many points on missed serves, missed hits and hitting them out of bounds. It’s a mentally tough game going in to play reining state champs and K-Christian just always has taller kids,” said Klimp.
The Comets went on to defeat Kalamazoo Hackett 3-0 in the district championship game November 7.
On November 6, Hackett defeated Decator 3-2 to move into the district championship game.
The G-A coach said while it was discouraging to see the season come to an end, she admits the team did enjoy growth on the way to an 18-10-2 overall record and third place finish in the SAC Central Division.
“They did good. I think that we earned a lot of points and that was our goal this year was to earn some points and not just play defense all the time. We did earn more points than we gave away, so we’re happy,” explained the G-A coach.
Klimp hopes her team recognizes what it will take to get to the next level, starting with hard work in the offseason.
“To be at the next level, they really have to focus on awareness of their body of the court. They really just have to put work in the off season and footwork. Just covering the court because we don’t always have to have the big hitters. The most knowledgeable kids of the game. Kids that can keep it even keel on the court,” said Klimp.
The Comets never trailed in the first set, moving in front 15-4.
While K-Christian enjoyed many long runs, the Rams only registered two consecutive points twice.
G-A proved to be pesky early in the second game, enjoying a pair of two-point leads at the start (2-0 and 3-1).
G-A’s last lead came on a Comet hitting error that gave the home team a 9-8 lead.
The Rams remained close, pulling to within 18-14 on a block by Jaidyn Klimp, however K-Christian finished strong, ending the game with a 7-3 run.
G-A grabbed a trio of one-point leads early in the third game ((3-2, 4-3, and 5-4) and forged a tie three times (5-5 and 6-6, and 7-7) before the Comets took charge with a game ending 18-1 run that included a 14-0 spurt that closed out the game.
Senior Jaidyn Klimp finished with seven kills and five digs, senior Suzanne Nichols had a team high eight assists, senior Lili Thompson had a team high 14 digs and Lily Gilbert added 11 digs.
Seniors on the roster include Samantha Mobley, Nichols, Klimp, Megan Ranes, Thompson and Rhyann Wilson.
District Volleyball Semifinals at Galesburg-Augusta
Kalamazoo Christian Def. Galesburg-Augusta, 25-20, 25-17, 25-8
G-A Stats
Jaidyn Klimp - 1 ace, 7 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks, 1 assist
Suzanne Nichols - 4 digs, 1 block, 8 assists
Megan Ranes - 1 ace, 4 kills, 2 digs
Lily Gilbert - 1 ace, 1 kill, 11 digs, 1 assist
Lili Thompson - 14 digs
Rhyann Wilson - 1 ace, 3 kills, 1 dig, 1 assist
Samantha Mobley - 2 digs, 1 assist
BreAnna Keene - 1 kill
Grace Gibson - 1 dig
Addison Born - 3 digs, 1 assist
Galesburg-Augusta’s Suzanne Nichols (3) and Jaidyn Klimp (10) go up high attempting to block a kill attempt during the district semifinal match against Kalamazoo Christian November 6 at G-A High School.
(Photo by Bruce Rolfe)
