Fundamental miscues, coupled with a lack energy and communication breakdowns led to a short evening for the Washington Demon volleyball team (4-14 overall) Tuesday. The Demons welcomed the Fort Madison Bloodhounds (8-4 overall; 3-0 Southeast) to Washington High School for a Southeast Conference showdown. The Bloodhounds downed the Demons in straight sets (15-25, 10-25, 17-25).

Senior Amber Salow and junior Olivia Postl each recorded a team high five kills in the setback. Sophomore Megan Mitchell led Washington with 12 assists. Mistakes piled up for the Demons with 11 attack errors, 13 dig errors, and five serve errors.

Head volleyball coach Julliana Berg was also dissatisfied by her team’s energy level last night. “We call a timeout and I say, ‘all I want you to do is play with energy’,” Berg said,”I am not asking you to have big swings, I am not asking you to kill the ball every time, I am not asking you to ace the ball every time, I am just asking you to have energy.”

The loss is the seventh setback in a row for Washington. Their last victory came in Keokuk on Sept. 15, a five set win over the Chiefs, (18-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-4).

Washington returns to the court Saturday, competing in Mid-Prairie’s annual volleyball tournament in Wellman.