Karns City volleyball’s communication still has room for improvement after loss to Clarion Area
KARNS CITY — During some girls volleyball matches, Karns City’s players are the loudest people in the gym.
“And then (tonight) we have Set 1 and Set 3 of us being dead silent and no communication,” third-year Gremlins coach Taylor Callihan said after her team was swept by Central Clarion 3-0 at home Tuesday night. “(It’s) just kind of getting them to realize kind of, ‘When you talk, you do better.’”
Karns City fell by scores of 25-12, 26-24 and 25-8. Callihan much preferred her team’s communication in the second set as compared to the ones that sandwiched it.
The Gremlins (4-7) led 14-13 in that set — one of their handful of advantages on the night — then alternated scores after being knotted at 21 apiece. A pair of kills by senior outside hitter Marley Kline gave the visitors a 2-0 set edge.
“That’s one of the things we’ve been working on a lot this year, is actually talking every play,” Callihan said. “I think (during) the second set we were able to communicate effectively, with a purpose, and not just moving without saying anything, so everyone knew exactly what (they) were doing in a play.”
It’s been an overarching theme for Karns City, which Callihan said has seen “a lot of what happened tonight. We come out the first set a little slow, come out the second set killing the ball, doing great and then come out the third set ... kind of defeated.”
Playoffs, she added, are likely out of the question.
Callihan said the Gremlins have worked on “active listening, so if I have a better approach at the ball, I’m calling mine. You back off and help cover, instead of both of (us) go at the same time.” Their awareness of surroundings, placement on the court and who else is calling for the ball has been a work in progress.
Bobcats (9-3) coach Shari Campbell praised Karns City’s passing and intentional defense during the middle set. During the bookending sets, she liked her side’s serving. Clarion ramped the pressure up in the clinching frame, ripping off 13 consecutive points after being deadlocked at 3-3.
Callihan didn’t call a timeout.
“Sometimes they just wanna try to dig themselves out on their own,” Callihan said. “You can only call a timeout and tell them to talk so many times without it being not used.”
Callihan is happy with the progress her players have made during her coaching tenure. She feels they’ve made strides despite the defeats. The Gremlins travel to Redbank Valley on Monday.
Junior Mya Jones had five kills against Clarion. Senior Jessica Rodgers added another two with six assists and seven digs. Addison Fox had 15 digs, nine assists and an ace. Regan Schmoll had six kills, a block and two digs.
-
Clarion Area defeats Karns City in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Clarion Area defeats Karns City in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Clarion Area defeats Karns City in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City's Addison Fox (15) hits against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Clarion Area defeats Karns City in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City's Jessica Rodgers (14) is introduced before a girls volleyball game against Clarion Area on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City's Nicole Huff (8) returns a serve against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City head coach Taylor Callihan cheers on her team against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karns City's Jessica Rodgers (14) passes against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Abigail Galan (9) hits through the block of Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Addison Fox (15) sets a pass against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Nicole Huff (8) hits against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Regan Schmoll (13) celebrates a point against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Nicole Huff (8) hits against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Regan Schmoll (13) battles at the net with Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Addison Fox (15) serves against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Jasmyn Bellon (3) returns a serve against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
-
Karn City's Mya Jones (10) hits against Clarion Area in a girls volleyball game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Karns City High School. JJ LaBella/Special to the Eagle
