Wooden County Christian's Kylee Border (10) hits the ball as teammate Camryn Yoho (22) appears to be like on throughout Tuesday's Ohio Valley Athletic Convention 1A semifinal recreation in opposition to Trinity. Wooden County Christian gained in three units. (Picture: Aaron Lee)
WILLIAMSTOWN — Within the OVAC volleyball semifinal matchup between top-seeded Wooden County Christian and fourth-seeded Trinity Christian, the Wildcats of Wooden County gained 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-21).
Wooden County Christian jumped out to a 3-0 lead early within the set. Haley Wilkinson had a wonderful spike a number of factors later to increase the Wildcats' lead.
Nonetheless, Trinity was capable of degree the rating at 11 factors per facet due to an ace by Luciana Citerone. WCCS answered with an ace of her personal courtesy of Kylee Border to take the lead.
As Wooden County constructed a pleasant cushion, Wilkinson contributed a number of factors later with a robust spike and ace. By the tip of the set, Skylar Wilkinson was capable of push it other than all Trinity gamers to provide WCCS a 24-16 lead. The Wildcats gained the primary set by a rating of 25-18.
The second set began with an ace from Wooden County's Rowyn Wharton.
Sophia Thibault had a pair of back-to-back aces to guide the Wildcats to 4-1. At this level the WCCS began working away with the file.
Border obtained her second ace of the day to provide the Wildcats a 10-3 lead. Down 12-6, Thibault had a terrific kick that helped prolong Wooden County's result in seven. Everybody within the gymnasium thought it was over. The return of the ball caught the Trinity gamers in the course of a celebration. Later, Thibault and Camryn Yoho made back-to-back kicks to avoid wasting a ball that regarded prefer it was going to hit the sphere.
Wharton then obtained her second ace of the night time to increase Wooden County Christian's result in 17-7. Down 19-8 moments later, Thibault obtained aces on three of the subsequent 4 factors to place the Wildcats up 23-8. Sophie Seckman scored the ultimate level of the set on a spike that sealed the deal at 25-11.
Within the third set, Trinity made it clear that they weren’t going to surrender simply. The Warriors began the set 2-0. Skylar Wilkinson had a powerful block moments later to tie issues up at two factors apiece. Thibault then obtained her sixth ace of the day to place WCCS up 4-3. Yoho additionally contributed an ace to place the Wildcats up 8-4. Gracie Duncan blocked a volley to increase the WCCS result in 11-4. At this level within the set, there was a transparent shift in momentum. Trinity is again with a vengeance. The Warriors scored 12 of the subsequent 17 factors to tie the sport at 16. The Wildcats stayed calm and rattled off six straight factors to go up 22-16. WCCS prevailed in a extremely contested third set by a rating of 25-21.
Wildcats head coach Sarah Spurgeon mentioned of the group's efficiency in opposition to Trinity, “We got here out scorching as typical. We had been actually sturdy within the first set. I used to be to see how the women got here out sturdy once more within the second set. This season we had a tricky time within the second set the place we misplaced our focus and misplaced the power we’ve got, however I used to be actually happy with them for being sturdy within the first set, the second set and the third set. On the finish of the third set, we began dropping some factors there, however we had been capable of focus and get again on monitor.”
Spurgeon went on to explain the dynamic and its impression on the group and the game as a complete, “Momentum in volleyball is the principle issue and you will need to preserve it. One of many greatest issues that causes a group to lose momentum, particularly our group, shouldn’t be speaking. Don't name the ball, don't speak in regards to the ball and don't speak about the place you might be on the sphere. Once we begin assuming, we begin dropping factors and issues begin going unsuitable.”
With the postseason on the horizon, Spurgeon needs the Wildcats to maintain pushing, “As we head into the postseason, I wish to preserve my foot on the fuel pedal. I simply wish to preserve the stress on. I wish to preserve the women centered and preserve them centered so we are able to preserve longer stretches of focus, particularly within the postseason. Our schedule is more durable from right here, so we actually have to ensure we keep mentally powerful in addition to bodily doing all the proper issues.”
The Wildcats will play the winner of Wellsville and Beallsville within the OVAC Class 1A championship this Saturday at Union Native Excessive College.
Contact Aaron Lee at alee@newsandsentinel.com
