MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks (9-7) fell 2-3 in their senior night home match Thursday evening against Eastmont. Despite the loss, Mavs head coach Krystal Trammell said it was still a good night to celebrate the seniors in their final home match of the regular season. 

“It was fantastic and we had a great crowd there to help celebrate the girls, but we just could not complete to win the match,” said Trammell.  

The Mavs started off the evening strong, taking over in the first set very early on and playing dominantly at the net to win 25-21. Eastmont would take over the second set to earn a quick 16-25 win.  

In the third set, the Mavs once again claimed the win, getting past Eastmont 25-18, but Eastmont would come back to tie the game in the fourth set in a tight 25-27 victory. To win the final set, one team needed 15 points. However, both teams stayed even throughout the matchup, but ultimately Eastmont would pull ahead to win 15-17 and take the match 2-3. 

“A little heartbreaking for the girls, but a huge lesson learned when you come out in set two and four and allow them to score six or seven points on you immediately. It’s very hard to make those points up and to make up that ground,” said Trammell. 

Going forward, she said it will be key for the team to learn how to initiate, execute and complete during their sets.  

Thursday’s matchup had quite a few highlights for the Mavs, with Kardyn Martinez making 12 kills and 19 blocks at the net and Lillianna Roylance making eight kills and 13 blocks. Other highlights came from Caitlyn Decubber, who made 14 kills and Madison Witwer, who made 7 kills. 

“(Kardyn) and Lily were unbelievable,” said Trammell. “They just took control of the net and when we have our blocking game on, they’re unstoppable.” 

Overall, the Mavs did great on their blocking game and showed great improvement in their passing during Thursday’s game, she said. The Mavs were also able to have a good offensive spread and cycled through multiple players throughout the game. 

Trammell said where the Mavs struggled was with continued missed serves and unforced errors, such as hitting the ball out and making hasty decisions when trying to close out a set. 

“Serves kill us when we miss them, and then we gave them so many unearned points,” she said. “When we’re up by three or four points in a set and put our foot on the gas and go, then we make errors.” 

The Mavs team was overall disappointed by their loss against Eastmont, but Trammell said this loss will be a major learning moment for the team as they head into postseason play. As they move forward, their season will depend on how they react to the loss and how they can turn it around to increase their urgency on the court. 

“I have absolutely no doubt that they are going to turn it around and come out firing away on Tuesday,” she said. “They know their overall goal, this group has worked so hard to get there, so I have no doubt they’re going to come out stronger, take it to them and leave it all out on the court.” 

The Mavs will be playing at home against Eisenhower on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for the play-in game to districts Saturday. 

BOX SCORE:  

MLHS: 25-16-25-25-15: 2
ESMT: 21-25-18-27-17: 3 

    Mavs senior Kardyn Martinez (11) goes for the kill during Thursday’s game against Eastmont. Martinez earned 12 kills and 19 blocks during the matchup.
  

    Caitlyn Decubber, a senior for the Mavs prepares to serve the ball during Thursday’s matchup. Decubber earned 14 kills during the game and had great success on serves in the first set.
  

    Mavs senior Lilliana Roylance (1) sets the ball for one of her teammates to go for the kill during Thursday’s game. Roylance earned eight kills and made 13 blocks during the course of the team’s five set match.
  

    Mavs senior Addison Burns gets ready to spike the ball back onto Eastmont’s side of the net during Thursday’s game. Mavs head coach Krystal Trammell said the loss for the team was tough, but will be a pivotal learning moment for the team as they head into the postseason.
  

    Bella Minor, a senior for the Mavs, prepares for a serve during the first set against Eastmont on Thursday. Mavs head coach Krystal Trammell said it was still a good night for the seniors on the team to be celebrated for their efforts this season.