SPORTS
A look at volleyball evolution
There has been more than once in my time covering high school volleyball where I heard the confusion from people of a certain age about how the game is scored or why that girl has on a different jersey than her teammates.
Since around the turn of the century, volleyball at almost all levels made drastic shifts to its rules that have helped make it evolve into the sport it is today.
From 1998-2001 the International Volleyball Federation introduced two key rule shifts. The sport switched to rally scoring and created a new position for back row players, the libero.
Before this, teams could only score if their team was serving the ball in a scoring system called side-out scoring. Sets went up to only 15 points instead of the 25 they are now. Also, matches were played in a best of three format instead of the now best of five format.
Longtime Nocona volleyball Coach Glenna Clay grew up playing and coaching for more than a decade with side-out scoring and has watched how the sport has evolved since then. For better and for worse in her eyes.
“It was an equalizer and was designed to make the game more exciting,” Clay said. “I still prefer the old style with side-out because it was more aggressive. You knew when you went up to slam a spike it might not be a point, but only side out. The game has gotten faster through the years on offense with quick hits and plays, but the traditional high set still is used.”
Other coaches agree the mentality has changed a bit like former Saint Jo Coach Charlie Hamilton.
“I feel changing the scoring changed the thought process of really having to earn your points,” Hamilton said. “Now someone gets a point even without earning it, but on someone else’s mistakes. Having to earn your point mentality changed.”
Along with the scoring changes, the libero created a position where players too short for the front row, but not right for the setter position to could shine.
Wearing a different color than their teammates, they can take the place of any back row player. They are not allowed to block or hit the ball at the net in the front row.
They’re replacement does not count against a team’s substitution limit meaning coaches sometime find a way for them to never leave the court.
A libero is only focused on back row defense like digging balls hit hard by the opposing team’s hitters. Some at higher levels can act as a team’s second setter as well.
These two things combined to up the scoring and make offensive execution more consistent for teams and have sped up the game overall.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
Nocona
The Nocona Indians picked up dominant wins against Chico in their series against the Dragons last week.
The Indians won both games 11-0 by run-rule after five innings to get their first district wins of the season.
Nocona was coming off losing both games against Lindsay the previous week in its first district series and bounced back in a big way.
In the first game at home last week, the Indians scored six runs in the first inning and five in the third inning which proved to be all the offense they needed.
Kutter Cabrera led the team with three RBIs while Miller Jentry was second with two RBIs. The team finished with nine hits and drew eight walks.
On the mound, Walker Murphey pitched a shut out while striking out seven and allowing three hits. Defensively, the team committed one fielding error.
The second game saw Nocona score all of its runs in the first three innings, highlighted by scoring six runs in the second inning.
Murphey hit a three-run home run to lead the team while Brody Langford and Landon Fatheree each had two RBIs.
On the mound RJ Walker had a big day, throwing a perfect four innings which means he did not allow a hit or walk anyone. He also struck out eight batters, which put him over 100 career strikeouts in high school. The defense committed no fielding errors.
Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Panthers lost their series against Bryson last week.
The first game was a close 3-0 loss, but the second game was 11-0, done after four and half innings due to run-rule.
The Panthers were coming off close losses to Perrin-Whitt from the previous week. They were hoping they could turn their fortune around playing another 1A program.
Unfortunately in the first game, the Cowboys got off to a good start, scoring three runs in the first inning, with two coming with two outs due to an error and a dropped third strike.
Saint Jo’s pitching and defense tightened up after that to not allow another run in the final six innings. Unfortunately, the Panthers had only two hits and four base runners all game as they lost the close game 3-0.
Charlie Evans and Rylan Forrest had the only two hits for Saint Jo in the game as the team struck out 18 times. Trent Gaston ended the game allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out five batters and walking two in six innings of work. The defense committed five fielding errors.
Unfortunately, things did not go as well several days later in game two. Bryson scored three runs in both the first and second innings before scoring five runs in the third inning. Saint Jo was not able to get a hit and drew two walks in the game.
The Panther defense committed six fielding errors which led to only three of the 11 runs given up were earned by the pitching staff who gave up five hits, walked six and hit four batters.
Bellevue
The Bellevue Eagles played Perrin-Whitt last week in a series.
The Pirates won the first game 11-1 by run-rule and the second game score was not updated on Game Changer.
The Eagles were coming off one-sided losses to Bryson the previous week in their first district series and was hoping to play better.
Bellevue did get out to an early lead in the first inning. River Trail hit an RBI single in the top of the first inning to go up 1-0, which proved to be the highlight of the game.
Perrin-Whitt scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second inning, two in the fourth inning and five in the fifth inning to win 11-1.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
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