For the first time this season Beachwood’s volleyball team didn’t experience a hiccup in collecting its eighth win of the season.
The Bison defeated Hawken, 3-0, to improve to 8-3 overall and 4-2 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Metro Division.
“It was a great day,” said Beachwood first year coach Sara Schoenhagen. “Coach Shaina (Bryan) and I felt very good about today’s win. They looked like a team out there. Today was probably the first game of season that coach Shaina and I walked away happy with all sets they played.”
At times this season the Bison started slowly then picked up their tempo to win matches. At other times, they got off to a fast start only to have to hold off the opposition late in the match.
That wasn’t the case on Tuesday.
Beachwood opened the first set with a 25-22 and only got better. They won the second set 251-7 and the third 25-13.
“We had a talk with them last Friday and Monday that it’s the second half of the season and we already played most of these teams so we know what’s coming and what to expect,” Schoenhagen said. “We asked them how they want to finish out the season.”
With Shaneice James leading the way with 11 kills and five blocks, the Bison responded to their coaches.
James also contributed with six digs.
Valisha Watkins posted 10 kills, 10 digs and had four aces; Tamarea Townes had six kills, seven digs and five aces and Jada Stevens had six kills and 10 digs.
The key for the Bison was the setting of Cameron Leathers-Clayborne.
“She set all three sets and did a fantastic job of moving her sets around so everyone got in the offense,” Schoenhagen said. “She had 26 assists, which made us very hard to block. Everyone was involved in the offense. That made us very hard to stop.”
Beachwood plays at Fairport on Wednesday and hosts the Bison Invitational on Saturday.