HALE - Dec. 19, 2005 - Hale's volleyball team opened its season with a 25-13, 26-24, 25-20 victory over Lincoln-Alcona on Monday.

Eagles coach Kristi Benedict said that first-game jitters seemed to have an affect on the team's performance.

"We only served 76 percent for the night," she said. "We definitely need to get that percentage up into the 90s. We need to work on our passing, and that had (setter) Heather Albaugh scrambling to get to the ball, which affected the way she was getting the ball to the hitters. They also seemed pretty quiet, which always scares me. Communication is so crucial with volleyball and I haven't had a girl step up and take that role on the floor."

Benedict pointed out there were several positives as well.

"Jess Beasinger served 89 percent and Shannon Self went 86 percent," she said. "Sabrina Provoast had a good game at the net. She didn't play as a sophomore due to injury so it was encouraging to see her play the way she did."

Hale (1-0) opens the new year at AuGres-Sims on Jan. 5.