Gary Bloyd sees this as a building year for his Warren East volleyball program.

Fielding a squad loaded with mostly sophomores and juniors, Bloyd wants to see his team continue to build chemistry and gain experience as the Lady Raiders strive to narrow the gap between themselves and the top teams in the rigorous District 14.

Winning matches is an indication the building process is working, and Bloyd’s squad provided more proof that it’s perhaps not so far off with a convincing 3-0 (25-5, 25-11, 25-9) victory over district rival Warren Central on Monday at Warren East. The win ran the Lady Raiders’ season mark to 3-0 and got the team off to a good start in district play.

“It’s going to take these girls this year to really learn how to play, really learn how to move the ball and play the back,” Bloyd said. “I’ve got to stay patient, stay calm and just let them grow.”

The Lady Raiders are further along than the Lady Dragons, a team every bit as young and still trying to mesh with new coach Timothy Arnold. It’s been a challenge, since Arnold got a late start after being named to lead the program in the second week of July. The Lady Dragons did win their opener last week against Russellville, but had trouble getting much going against Warren East.

The Lady Raiders took advantage of Warren Central’s inconsistent serve-receive to tally 20 aces and put sets away early with long service runs.

“It’s a growing process for our team,” Arnold said. “We’re not hopefully where we’re going to be at the end. I was pleased with our effort as the match went on. It doesn’t reflect it on the scoreboard, but I thought our effort from the first serve to the last serve improved and that’s what we’re trying to do. We just want to improve with every opportunity we have.”

Warren East set the tone in the first set when junior setter Kendall Bloyd opened the match with a 9-0 service run that included four aces. Bloyd, the daughter of the coach, tallied six aces and 15 service points in all.

“Kendall has the most experience out of all the girls because she plays travel ball,” Gary Bloyd said. “It’s kind of weird to say this, but this is her fifth year that she’s been playing varsity.”

Already up 12-2 in the first set, the Lady Raiders blew it open with a 9-0 service run by sophomore libero Morgan Dobelstein (match-high 18 service points, five aces) as they rolled to a 25-5 win.

Kendall Bloyd opened the second set with another decisive service run, scoring six straight to give her team a sizable lead early.

“I know it sets the tone, gets my girls moving,” Kendall Bloyd said. “It got us started, I guess. Our serving this year hasn’t been the best and coach has been trying to get us to do better, and this match was all about getting our serves over and in and being consistent.”

The Lady Raiders showed plenty of hitting power as well, when given the opportunity. Warren East tallied 25 kills while the Lady Dragons totaled just four.

Lady Raiders sophomore outside hitter Morgan Krisher had a strong all-around night, finishing with a match-high nine kills along with four aces and nine service points. Lady Raiders junior Jordan Fulkerson added six kills and a pair of dinks.

“We’ve got young hitters,” Gary Bloyd said. “Most of those girls up front are sophomores. We’re young on the front line. They’re learning how to hit, they’re learning how to move the ball. We’ve got a long ways to go with them.”

Warren Central’s best stretch came in the third set, when back-to-back aces by Ashley Atkins pulled her team even at 3 and the Lady Dragons again tied it at 5 before Dobelstein reeled off another decisive six-point service run.

It’s early, but Gary Bloyd is looking forward to watching his team continue to make strides.

“It’s going to take these girls this year to really learn how to play, really learn how to move the ball and play the back,” Bloyd said. “I’ve got to stay patient, stay calm and just let them grow.”

Warren Central is back in action Tuesday at home against Glasgow. Warren East is at Allen County-Scottsville on Tuesday.{&end}