The Washington Demon volleyball team fell to Ft. Madison last night in conference play.

The Bloodhounds used long point streaks and a punishing shot by Meagan Hoenig to win the match 3-1.

Washington kept the game close in game one, and led for some of it, but a nine point run by Ft. Madison gave them the edge and they won 25-17. In the second game the Demons led again, but a couple of four point runs gave Ft, Madison the edge in game two 25-15.

In game three the Demon’s kept it close the whole game, and were tied with Ft. Madison at 21, but Washington pushed back to secure the 25-22 win. Unfortunately the wheels came off for the Demons in game four.

Washington and Ft, Madison were tied at two, when the Bloodhounds scored a defensive score to take the lead 3-2 and that was the last time Washington would be anywhere near their opponent. A 19 point unanswered run, including the sideout point, made it 21-2. The Demons scored two more times, but Ft. Madison ran away with game four 25-4 and that was the match.

Head coach Julianna Berg said hesitation and the mental aspect of the game is what led to the loss.

“I throw girl’s into position that they are not used to, and I think it comes down to hesitating just enough that you start to try to control the ball just a little too much and that’s when you start to make the errors,” Berg said. “You have to go out there and you just have to swing, you can’t be afraid of the block, you can’t be afraid of making errors, and I think that is what I see in a lot of the girls, they are just afraid of making mistakes, and volleyball, it’s a game of mistakes.”

Washington will be in action at the Mid-Prairie tournament this weekend.