Wallowa Highs varsity volleyball team absorbed a string of losses during its first full week of competition, but the young Lady Cougars may have emerged stronger for the experience.

They seem to be coming along in the right steps, said WHS coach Janea Hulse. Im proud of the progress they have already made. I just hope we can keep building on that.

Juniors and even the seniors on the WHS squad came into the 2012 campaign lacking much varsity level experience, so this is a team thats younger than its years.

Wallowa lost its season-opening match, 3-0, in Union on Sept. 6. Game scores were 25-8, 25-12, and 25-18. The shrinking deficits represented a desirable trend for the Cougars, who were evidently gaining some confidence.

It was just a game of unforced errors, Hulse said of the matchs first game. A lot of net calls, out of rotation. These are a lot of things you can fix.

Wallowa hosted Adrian on Friday, Sept. 7, and the two teams kept the spectators well entertained. Although Wallowa was again on the losing end of a 3-0 games score, each game was tight: 25-23, 25-21, and 26-24.

Compared to the Cougars first two games against Union the night before, Hulse said the improvement in her teams play against Adrian was remarkable. Hardly any net calls, our serving was much better. It was a whole new team out there, the Wallowa coach said. She also noted improvements in Wallowas blocking, hitting and digging.

The heavily loaded week continued with a Sept. 8 tournament at Heppner. WHS played two games each against Grant Union, Heppner and Dufur before concluding its day of work with a scheduled best-of-three match against Powder Valley.

The Cougars went winless throughout the series of contests, which means even the Powder Valley matchup went only two games. Against each opponent, however, the Cougars highest points total came in the second game: 22 in the second Grant Union game; 19 in games two against Heppner and Powder Valley, and 18 against Dufur.

Among individual players who drew favorable notice from the coach in WHS week number one were consistent passers Kristyn Young, Shai Allen and Mikayla Frei; improving hitters Sally Mary Blair and Samantha Johnston; and outsides Taylor Harshfield and Effie Burns. Hulse said Young had the most service aces, but Blair and Frei also furnished consistent serving.

At press time, Wallowa was looking forward to a Tuesday night match in Enterprise. This weeks schedule also includes a Friday trip to Condon followed by Saturdays Joseph Invitational. Conference play begins in earnest next week, with road matches against Imbler and Cove.