Isabella’s volleyball team lost to Lexington on Wednesday in the first round of the Class 2A state tournament.

“We just couldn’t get into our offense,” coach Glen Graham said. “We just could not execute and get into any resemblance of our system.”

The Mustangs fell behind 12-0 in the first set before Graham called a timeout to regroup, and Khadijah Craig responded with a kill for her team’s first point of the match.

Lexington still won the set, 25-9.

IHS was more competitive in the second set but still lost, 25-13.

The Mustangs were close in the third set, trailing 10-9, but Lexington went on a 4-0 run and never looked back.

Graham said he congratulated the team on a successful season and for making it back to the state tournament. The Mustangs have been the last three years.

Graham said he also challenged the players to learn from the experience.

“Life is tough sometimes,” he said. “You have to fight and scratch and claw for what you want.”

Hayden Compton led the team with six kills, and Craig posted a team-high five blocks to go along with three kills and two aces.

Heather Posey had 12 assists, and Allison Mims led the defense with eight digs.

Savannah Kissel had three kills and two digs, and Landy Griffith chipped in two kills, two aces and two digs.