TORRINGTON – On Tuesday evening, the Torrington volleyball teams hosted the annual Sports Drink Scrimmage in final preparations for the upcoming season.
It was also a chance for the team to get its first taste of full-speed match in front of fans.
“They did well. This is the first time this group has really ever played together,” coach Chelsi Jackson said. “It was what I expected. They got their first game jitters out.”
The Lady Blazers open the season at the annual Douglas Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Torrington will be challenged right out of the gates this year, drawing Glenrock, Alliance, Nebraska and Buffalo in its pool.
“They will get challenged, and it will be good,” Jackson said. “We play better when we play up.”
Jackson saw several bright spots from the scrimmage, including serving, the play of senior Reece Halley and being able to dig out of a deficit in the second set.
“They did well coming out of the hole,” Jackson said.
The varsity team trailed by three midway through the second set before storming back to take the two-set sweep.
“They were down by three points mid game, and they came out of it,” Jackson said. “That has been something we’ve struggled with as a team over the years.”
One of the reasons for the comeback was courtesy of Halley, who started to find her swinging groove as the scrimmage went on.
“We need to find her groove,” Jackson said. “She’s going to be a big player for us this year.”
The third area was in the serving department, which Jackson stated improved throughout the scrimmage.
Following the Douglas Tournament, the Lady Blazers open the home portion of the schedule on Tuesday, Aug. 31 against Gering, Nebraska. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“It’s going to be a good season for us,” Jackson said.
