Randolph-Henry High School’s varsity girls volleyball team is learning just how important every piece of a puzzle can be.

Injuries have put the Lady Statesmen in a position of playing without one of their leaders, while other important contributors have largely recovered but are still limited in their movement on the court.

“We’re still struggling a little bit,” Randolph-Henry Head Coach Nikki Elder said. “A couple of our players are still playing not at a hundred percent.”

The Lady Statesmen played both of their matches at home last week but fell 3-0 to Prince Edward County High School on Thursday and 3-0 to Bluestone High School on Oct. 1.

Elder mentioned the presence of frustration because her players are “trying their hardest. It’s just not coming together for them.”

Setter/outside hitter Michaela Miller, one of only two seniors on the team, is out with a knee injury. The coach said Miller will probably not be back for another week, maybe two.

Senior middle hitter Morgan Mason is able to play, but her healing ankle is still tender, so she is not moving as fast as she can when at full strength, Elder said.

Also not experiencing her full capability is junior outside hitter/setter Leighan Payne, who previously injured her hip, the coach noted.

Elder made it clear, though, that the other girls are putting to good use this time in which the team is not fully healthy.

“The other girls, they’re working and trying to make up for that,” the coach said.

This is a busy week for the Lady Statesmen as they have three scheduled matches — one on the road and two at home.

“We’re making up a game from the week that we were out with the hurricane,” Elder said.

Randolph-Henry went into Tuesday’s road match against Amelia County High School with a 1-9 overall record this season.

On Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Lady Statesmen host Goochland High School, and then Thursday at 7 p.m., they host Central Lunenburg High School.