Prep volleyball: Pirates outlast Hurricanes

BRADENTON — Steve Haugh didn’t get the complete match he wanted.

Jessica Hinkle saw more fight in her players than she did last year.

Early-season non-district volleyball matches are all about evaluating and preparing for bigger matches down the pike. And Wednesday’s tilt that saw Braden River edge Manatee 3-2 satisfied both coaches in that respect.

The Pirates, 2-1 and a year removed from reaching their first regional final, won the first two games. Manatee, 1-1 and fresh off a rebuilding season, took Games 3 and 4 before Braden River cruised 15-6 in the finale.

Most importantly, both clubs know what they need to tweak prior to entering the meat of their schedule, which is stocked with district opponents.

“We’re just struggling a bit offensively,” Haugh said. “We seem to be losing confidence here and there.”

The Pirates were humming early, taking Games 1 and 2 by a score of 25-15. Haugh played with the lineup in Game 3, a 25-22 Manatee win, before the Hurricanes stormed to a 25-15 win in Game 4.

“Once we get it together, we can play. As you can see, in the first two games, we can play pretty well,” he said. “We need to play better. ... We really haven’t played a complete match yet, and we didn’t (Wednesday), obviously.”

Despite not scoring the win, the Hurricanes did enough to please Hinkle.

“Second game of the season, we go to five? I don’t think you can be upset at this point,” she said. “They easily could have laid down in the third game and said, ‘We’re good — let’s go home.’ I think you’re seeing a different team this year. Even though a lot of them are returning, there’s a fight there. They get it.”

Brittany Jaco had eight kills and Courtney McDevitt had five for the Pirates, and Kelly Shiels added 14 digs.

Ashley Hagood, a freshman, added 10 assists and two aces for Manatee, Kayla Armer dished out 23 assists, Hailey Hall had 11 kills and two aces and Rachel Drummey had 10 kills for the Canes.

JV: Braden River beat Manatee 25-16, 25-21.

Mallory Kosfeld had six blocks for the Canes (1-1).