The Gibson Southern Lady Titan volleyball team faced off against the Huskies on Sept. 23. The Lady Titans lost the first set 25-19, then second 25-13 and finally the third 25-20 to take the loss, leaving them with a record of 9-11.

“North has a fabulous team; they’re completely solid and well coached,” head coach Emily Schmitt said.

Losing in three sets is not how any player or coach expects a game to go, and there were many factors in the loss.

“I can’t pinpoint anyone out,” Schmitt said. “Volleyball is a game of errors, and it’s really controlling the first pass that way we can set up an offense. I felt like the times we really lost competition in the game were when there was a wider spread. When we were behind is when we weren’t controlling the first touch. When we were controlling it, we were passing well, then our front row had a better offense.”

The game showed Schmitt and the girls areas in which they need to focus on to improve in the latter part of this season and improve their success.

“[We need to] continue with making the move towards the ball even if they think they aren’t going to get it, good communication and controlling the first touch,” Schmitt said.

Along with Schmitt, the girls on the team want to improve in a variety of ways.

“Throughout the season, I want the team to grow not only in skill, but as an individual,” senior Lexi Potts said. “Volleyball is such a mental sport and positive attitudes mean everything.”

As a freshman, it often seems like four years is an inordinate amount of time, but it does go fast.

“It feels surreal to be playing my last season as a Titan,” Potts said. “These past four years have flown by. This team isn’t just friends on the court, we are off the court as well. I will always cherish the friendships I have made with these girls.”

Schmitt, too, has enjoyed coaching the team.

“They are a good group of girls,” she said.

The Lady Titans will travel to South Spencer on Monday for a match against the Rebels.