Mankato East's Kristen Jones serves prove 'difficult' as Eagles fall in three

By DOUG MONSON

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm Eagles showed signs of improvement but fell to the Mankato East Cougars and the hot serving of Kristen Jones.

Jones ripped off nine straight points in the first game of a three game rout. She took over serving with a 2-0 Mankato lead and never looked back. The Cougars finished the first game 15-0.

Eagles coach Rebekah Otte said Jones' serve was difficult for her players to handle because it had so much top spin that it dove hard after it crossed the net. Jones finished the game with 19 points, including nice aces and 15 assists.

The Eagles struggled to pass the ball and set players up for assists, and Mankato capitalized on several Eagle errors.

In game two the Eagles charged out with more energy, pushing the Cougars to a 2-2 tie. Jones answered the Eagles attack again, this time serving four straight aces to give the Cougars a 6-2 lead. The Cougars finished out the match, outscoring the Eagles 9-5 the rest of the way.

In the third game, the Eagles Stephanie Navaro and Sara Schneeberg showcased for fans a glimpse of what the Eagles can do when they play consistently.

Leading 2-1, Navaro and Schneeberg dug numerous attacks from the Cougars while Mary Ottis controlled the net. Though East eventually took the point, the Eagles showed character and guts as they fought for the ball.

Navaro finished with nine digs and Schneeberg chipped in seven digs.

Otte said the point was exciting and it showed her further signs that her team is capable of playing good defense. Unfortunately, she said the team hasn't played consistently enough to do that on every play.

Navaro said the team needs to stay focused on the game in order to play consistent at all times.

"We need focus, we need concentration," Navaro said. "It's still the beginning of the season. We're still getting out the kinks. That's what the beginning of the season is for."

Laura Yager finished the game 10 of 10 serving with one ace. Despite struggling to pass the ball, Yager finished with 17 assists as well.

Otte said she isn't worried about her team, but she said they need to communicate better and need to find ways to adjust.

"We had lot's of balls dropping 'cause we weren't talking," Otte said.

The loss drops the Eagles to 0-2 on the season. The Eagles host New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.