ELKHART – The Lakeland Christian Academy volleyball team is sure to improve as the season progresses.

The Cougars, whose roster boasts very little varsity playing time as a whole, just need game experience.

LCA showed signs of promise early and late in a 3-0 loss to host Jimtown in the season opener for both squads Monday night.

The host Jimmies, who return eight letterwinners from last season, posted a 25-15, 25-5, 25-20 win over the Cougars.

“I thought our energy picked up in that third set,” said LCA coach Glenn Goldsmith. “We got the ball in and you have a chance when you make the other team play defense.

“I would say that we did okay tonight. We had four girls out there who had never played varsity before tonight and now they know how they have to play. They know the level that we need to play at.”

The host Jimmies, who finished 15-16 in 2014, were simply too experienced, too tall and too skilled for LCA to pull off the upset.

Jimtown, which is now in the Northern Indiana Conference, controlled the opening game behind the serving of sophomore Taylor Konrath and the big arm swing of senior outside hitter Lindsey Stose and senior middle blocker Shawntel James.

The Cougars kept it close in the opening set as sophomore Heather Plastow provided strong serving and senior Carissa Urschalitz led the defense.

Jimtown dominated game two as the hosts built a 12-0 lead before the Cougars scored on a service error.

LCA, which has three seniors on its roster in Carissa Urschalitz, Hannah Delp and Brighty Walters, put up a strong effort in the final game before dropping the five-point final.

“The thing is that we graduated five seniors and lost two freshmen who played for us last year,” noted Goldsmith. “We really have two players out there tonight who played significant varsity time last year.

“Our goal now for Tuesday night (when LCA travels to Whitko) is to be better on the net, get our serves in and encourage each other.”

Jimtown won the junior varsity match 25-3. 25-13.

LCA plays at Whitko Tuesday and then in the West Noble Invitational on Saturday. Jimtown plays at Bethany Christian Tuesday and at Northridge on Thursday.