Courtesy Photo by Cassandra VanHorn The Alpena High School volleyball team gathers in a huddle during their match against Traverse City West on Wednesday. The Wildcats fell short to the Titans in both matches.

ALPENA — On Wednesday, the Alpena Wildcats displayed early promise in their matchup against the Traverse City West Titans, but despite their strong start, they couldn’t hold off the Titans, who claimed victory in the end.

The match kicked off with an unstoppable serve from Madelynn Cameron, giving Alpena the first point and an early lead. However, Traverse City West quickly answered back, and the two teams battled it out through the first set.

Despite Alpena’s efforts, including some defensive saves, Traverse City West managed to catch up and overtake them, winning the first set.

The Wildcats struggled to maintain their early momentum, and Alpena’s defense couldn’t contain the Titans’ consistent pressure.

In the second set, Alpena fought to keep the game close as Traverse City West held a slight 18-14 lead. As the set progressed, the Titans widened the gap, eventually securing the win and taking the match overall.

Alpena Coach Kolby Andrews reflected on his team’s performance, noting that while the Wildcats have the talent and drive, conditioning and endurance will be key moving forward.

“We’ve got a lot of girls who contribute significantly, but as the matches get longer, we need to be able to push through fatigue,” he said. “It’s a mental hurdle too — especially for some of the younger players who are new to playing best of five matches.”

Andrews also emphasized the positive aspects of the team’s play, particularly their defensive efforts.

“Our defense was strong (Wednesday) against a good Traverse City West team,” he said. “We had long rallies, and the girls were digging their shots and doing their jobs on defense. That’s something we can build on moving forward.”

As Alpena looks ahead to future matches, Andrews stresses the importance of maintaining composure during long rallies and developing the ability to finish matches.

“We have to be able to dig deep and stay composed when it’s time to make a key play,” he said. “That’s what’s going to keep us competitive in tight matches and help us come out on top.”

Although the Wildcats couldn’t secure the win, their strong start and defensive effort highlighted their potential, giving them key areas to focus on as they prepare for their next challenge.