BLOOMFIELD -- Bloomfield sophomore Kendra Spelts concentrates on a serve here Thursday night against Bloomington South. Spelts was perfect from the service line and tallied five points. (By Travis David/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bloomfield Lady Cardinals volleyball team played the best match they have played in over a week against Bloomington South here Thursday night, according to their coach Jennifer Heaton, but the effort still fell short of victory. The Lady Cards fell to 4-9 on the season with the 25-22, 25-12, 25-16 loss to the visiting Panthers.

Heaton has been forced to juggle her starting line-up around with Elyse Weddle being out with an injured right ankle.

"We went with a new line up tonight and this was the best that we have played since last week," Heaton said. "The first set the girls were really fired up and ready to play, but we just fell short."

After battling the Panthers down to the wire in game one, the Lady Cardinals were over powered in game two. Heaton mentioned it seems to be a reoccurring theme of late.

"It seems like we have one of those sets in each match," Heaton said. "We just have to learn to match the same intensity throughout the match."

Much of the success the Lady Cards had in the first game came from outside hitter Leairra Thompson. The senior registered six of her team-high eight kills in the first game.

"We just couldn't find her close to the net the rest of the way out," Heaton said of Thompson. "It's not that the girls were not looking for her, we just struggled getting our setters in position off the serve."

Kendra Spelts and Kaitilyn O'Neall each recorded three kills for the Lady Cardinals. Spelts was also perfect from the service line connecting on all 11 of her serves and added 10 digs and 11 assists.

Holly Zschiedrich also did not misfire from the service line in her 10 attempts. The junior registered four points and six digs for the night.

Fellow classmate Shelby Gott also followed the theme of being perfect serving, with an 8 for 8 effort, two points, one kill and a team-high 20 digs.

Overall Heaton said she was pleased with effort from her squad.

"The kids played good, South is a really good team," Heaton said. "This just gives us more experience, and come sectional time we will be ready."

The Lady Cardinals also dropped the junior varsity match. Their record falls to 2-9 on the season.

Jordan Gillenwater had one dig and five points while Cariena Rosalez added four digs and three points.

Rachel Helms had one assist, one kill, six digs and four points.

Taylor Gilmore finished with one kill, four digs and three points while Alley Gilliland tallied four assists, one kill, five digs, one ace and six points.

Bailee Byers finished with two digs, five points and four kills.

Bloomfield will return to the court on Saturday when they participate in the varsity Shoals Round Robin.