It’s been a while since the Crestwood Red Devils’ volleyball team began the season with almost an entirely new roster. The Red Devils remained winless to start the season, being swept by Tallmadge 25-8, 25-16, 25-15 last Thursday evening in Summit County.
“The experience showed,” said Coach Wanda Hoffman. “I think the girls are exciting. With Tallmadge, their girls worked really well together, and they are probably a little bit more experienced on their varsity level than some of the girls that we have.”
Thursday’s match was a continuation of a slow start to the season for the Red Devils (0-2, 0-0), who have captured victory in only one set thus far, having won one in their season opener on Wednesday night against Portage County rival Mogadore in a 3-1 defeat.
According to the 27-year coach, Crestwood is still finding its way with a roster that although it has four seniors, none of them received significant varsity time last year on a roster that was fueled by seven seniors.
On Thursday, Hoffman acknowledged that the Red Devils’ service game was not precise, resulting in several missed serve attempts. She added that Tallmadge also had some initial serving issues but overcame a slow start and assumed control early, winning the first set 25-8.
“They had a lot of nice low serves and sometimes it is really hard to get a beat on the low serves which caused us a little bit of trouble and they are inexperienced on how to handle those type of things. she added.
Although the Red Devils’ serving struggles continued to be an issue in the second set they sustained some rallies, staying within striking distance but ultimately Tallmadge maintained the lead, winning the second set by a 25-16 margin.
Hoffman said that although Crestwood did a better job at mounting rallies, it could not sustain those rallies.
“It did go back-and-forth a couple of times where we missed, they missed, we missed so I think other teams are working on their mistakes as well,” she noted. “It is just that they might be correcting them, and it has only been two games and I think both of the opponents that we have had were pretty good.”
The Blue Devils wrapped things up in the third set, claiming a 25-15 victory to win the match decisively.
Hoffman said that as experienced as Tallmadge was, it was also a team that shared greater chemistry.
In addition to having a roster with only two returnees from last year, Hoffman said that it is also a group that has not had much playing time together, adding that the team is still figuring out its alignment.
“So I think that is what hurt us quite a bit because when other teams have a very good strong outside hitter we are trying to single-block that at this point,” she noted. “That might change. We have to get better at that. That is where we are getting beat for the most part as well.”
Although it will be a season filled with growing pains, Hoffman said that it is still a talented group that is learning how to hit its stride. When that happens, she said that things will improve for the Red Devils.
Crestwood’s two lone returnees are junior utility player Abby Hayes, who recorded four kills, seven digs, one block and once ace and junior defensive setter Jackie Blasiole, who tallied four kills and six digs. Every other player on the roster is getting their first real taste of varsity action.
“We are still working on the chemistry of this group and again I think we are going to get there,” she said. “We have some nice talent, it is just fitting the puzzle pieces in the right place and learning each other about what type of sets to set.
In addition to Hayes and Blasiole being the only two returning starters, Hoffman added that Blasiole is still working her way back into form, as she is still recovering from a torn ACL that she suffered at the beginning of last year. Hoffman said that the Red Devils’ junior played through the injury throughout the 2024 regular season before finally undergoing surgery right before the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV postseason.
While Hoffman is used to graduating talented senior classes, the latest graduating class was filled with players who were largely three or four-year starters for the program.
After a home match against Portage County rival Field on Monday and a road match against Chagrin Valley Conference rival Jefferson on Thursday, the Red Devils will host CVC foe West Geauga in Mantua on Sep. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
