The Pickerington Central volleyball team dropped two league matches last week, pushing its record to 2-9 on the year.

The Tigers lost to visiting crosstown rival Pickerington North April 27 (25-18, 25-12, 25-17) before dropping a match to host Mount Vernon April (29 25-6, 25-9, 25-21).

"We don't have a winning record, but we certainly are getting better every game," said coach Angela Davis, who is in her first year and is the Tigers' third coach in three years. "And that's all we can really ask for."

The team has seven returning letterwinners from the 2009 campaign.

Cory Long (libero), Jacob Abbarno (outside hitter), Jacob Bales (setter) and Tyler Miller (middle hitter) are the four returning seniors on the squad.

Juniors Kevin Grundey (outside hitter), Nick Downing (middle hitter) and Grant Holcomb (right-side hitter) round out the group of returners.

Sophomore back-row players Shane McFall and Ryan Knight are also making an impact on the team.

"They're a great group of boys and they all get along really well, which I think is really unusual for boys that age," Davis said. "They're very hard-working. I think they've had to overcome a lot over the past few years because they've had a different coach every year."

The team picked up its two wins at Worthington Kilbourne's Wolf Open April 17. The Tigers sported a 2-1 record and finished third in the silver bracket.

Victories came over Upper Arlington (25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 25-27, 15-9) and Delaware Hayes (12-25, 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 15-9). Westerville North proved to be their only loss in the event.

The group is still searching for its first league win, with a 0-8 Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division record.

For boys volleyball, the alignment of the OCC is a little different. In the Capital Division with the Tigers are Delaware Hayes, Gahanna, Hilliard Bradley, Mount Vernon and Pickerington Central.

Davis said the team makes little tweaks each game, but doesn't foresee making any major adjustments as the season progresses.

The Tigers were set to play two league matches before the conclusion of the regular season, playing at Hilliard Bradley Tuesday, May 4, and hosting Delaware Hayes Thursday, May 6. Both matches are set to start at 5:30 p.m.

Central dropped its first match to Hilliard Bradley April (15 26-24, 21-25, 25-21, 25-15). The Tigers won its non-conference battle with Delaware in the Wolf Open but lost the first league match April 20 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21).
 
Postseason play will get underway next week when the district tournament commences.