To listen to Tamaqua volleyball coach Emilie Baker, you would swear her team has stage fright.

The way the Blue Raiders played Tuesday evening against Schuylkill Volleyball League Division I rival Lehighton, it was quite spooky and eerie, too.

Getting swept in three sets 25-12, 25-21 and 25-14, Tamaqua couldn’t find the most important part of the game — rhythm. There was little passing, and volleying was also an issue at times.

On the other hand, the Indians were more than just smooth; they were dog tough throughout the early stages, establishing momentum and continuity en route to the sweep.

If there was a topper on the evening, it was the presentation of a $1,000 check to an area women who is battling breast cancer. Both coaches were in tune with the more important issue afterward.

“I’m a Tamaqua graduate, and raising the money was a first-class act,” said Lehighton coach TJ O’Connor. “This is something that the (students) should be lauded for, to raise money for such a worthy cause. The professionalism impressed me for someone in the community that is need of such help with cancer … kudos to Tamaqua.”

O’Connor’s team rallied around an early 10-point run in the opening set that set the tone for the evening. The Indians, behind the serving of senior Emily Miller — who chalked up three aces in the rally — were never in serious trouble thereafter. The Indians closed the set with six straight points, using a pair of aces off the serves of Gina Piccioni.

“You know this is a tough place to play. The student section gets really into it and after the first set, we moved out of that section away from the (crowd),” said O’Connor.

But the real keys to the victory for Lehighton were the top-flight play from Samantha Banning and Miller. They were steady and unshakable.

“They both did some heavy lifting for us,” continued O’Connor. “We have a slogan at practice — compete every point … compete, compete, compete.”

Indeed, the Indians were doing that and more. In the final set, Lehighton was a terror. The winners went on an 11-0 run, after breaking free from a 1-1 tie, with Banning getting five aces in the rally. The Raiders did rally behind the serving of KayDee Romig, who helped spur a six-point run with a pair of aces.

That short-lived rally was put to rest when the Indians needed but three points to finish off the contest.

“We literally think too much,” said coach Baker. “We don’t think that we can come back from being down 2-0 to win a game. We’ve got to get over that somehow. I really think we’re better than we’re playing right now. What we need is some positive reinforcement. Hopefully we can find it; I know that we can get the job done.”

TIPPING IT AWAY

… It was a 65-minute game from start to finish.

BY THE NUMBERS

… Lillian Brown had 26 digs for Lehighton, while Alissa Faye recorded 18 assists, Banning 15 digs, Miller nine kills and Allison Reph five kills. Tamaqua was led by Romig’s two aces and three kills, Madison Lee Baddick’s nine assists, and Ella McLaughlin’s 16 digs.

MISSES AND MORE MISSES

… Errors were about even; Tamaqua committed 36 and Lehighton 28. Those stats are serving errors, return errors and net errors.