By GALE CAVNESS
pressbox1.com

DYERSBURG - Little things turned into big problems Monday for Dyersburg High School's volleyball team.

Lack of consistency hampered serves, sets, passes and, according to DHS coach David Acree, just about everything his team attempted in a one-sided affair with visiting Trinity Christian Academy.

After having plenty of pre-season success in "play day" competition against the Lady Lions, the Lady Trojans were dealt an 11-25, 17-25, 13-25 setback in regular-season action on its home court.

"We didn't do anything consistently," Dyersburg's first-year coach said following the contest. "We got about 30 percent of our serves in. And we had very few good passes. They did the little things it takes to win.

"Today, we did nothing."

Trinity coach John Baxter even admitted some surprise at the ease of the triumph.

"We always hope to play to the best of our ability, and that's at a very high level," he said. "We . . . were familiar with Dyersburg's program and were expecting a very hard match tonight."

Dyersburg's junior varsity squad rallied from a setback in the opening match to post a 24-26, 25-18, 15-12 victory.

The DHS varsity had won its previous two outings. After dropping its season-opener to Munford, the Lady Trojans had bested district opponents Dyer County and Humboldt before stumbling against TCA.

Crockett County visits DHS today with JV action to begin at 5 p.m., followed by varsity play at 6.

According to Acree, the Lady Lions bested Dyersburg in the opening round of last year's regional tournament competition. At DHS Monday evening, the TCA club looked like it was already in post-season form.

Trinity's initial server blasted a pair of aces as the visitors wasted little time gaining control. Dyersburg picked up consecutive points off of the serve of Allison Petty to tie it 2-2, but the guests scored 10 of the next 11 points and were never headed.

In the second game of the best-of-five competition, the Lady Lions again got off to a fast start. Dyersburg trailed 11-2 before making a brief run at the guests, pulling to within six (13-7) when Anna Claire Bradshaw booked an ace that just clipped the net and fell untouched in front of the TCA defenders.

Good footwork and solid passing boosted TCA back into control, however, and on the way to the win in the second effort.

An 8-1 score to begin the third and final match proved to be too much of a deficit for the Lady Trojans to overcome. Dyersburg got a spark from Megan Cariker and Stephanie Johnson and Jessica Smith picked up a point at the net that pulled DHS within five (15-10) before an 8-2 scoring run by the Lady Lions sealed the deal.

Aggressive junior Cricket Glenn led TCA with powerful serves and a strong defensive effort, seemingly working herself into every play.

"She works hard," Baxter said. "She's really aggressive."

Baxter also singled out Christa Hutchison, Desi Washington, Meagan Gibson and Kendall German for their efforts against DHS.

After the lopsided loss, Acree said he challenged his club to learn from the experience and play up to their ability.

"We have a lot of potential, a ton of potential," Acree added. "But we didn't show it today."