Warren overcame a strong Titusville team on Tuesday night, defeating the Rockets in five thrilling sets, 25-15, 17-25, 21-25, 25-20, and 15-8.
The first set belonged strictly to the Dragons, which jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead - forcing a Rockets timeout - and never looked back in a 25-15 win.
Warren and Titusville went back-and-forth to start the second, but the Rockets pulled away late to even the match at one game apiece.
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Times Observer photo by Jonathan McAfoos
Up in the air
Valerie Latimer smashes a ball over the net, while teammate Paige Wilson (13) backs her up, during Tuesday’s match against Titusville at Warren Area High School. Latimer finished with 12 kills and Warren won in five sets.
The Rockets capitalized on their momentum, jumping out to an early lead in the third set. The Dragons fought to get back into the set, evening the score at 21-21, but Titusville won four straight points to take a 2-1 lead.
Warren (5-6 overall and 3-6 in Region 4) used a run of seven straight points to take a commanding lead and capture the fourth set and then used five straight points in the fifth and final set to help win the match. Titusville is 4-8 and 4-6.
"This is a good win for us," Warren coach Mike Dolan said. "We got swept earlier this season at their place, so for us to come back here and win shows we're improving. It was a good team effort and everybody played well. We got the ball to our hitters and they did a good job putting it away."
Valerie Latimer had 12 kills and Rachel Lasecki added 13. Teah Bines had 23 assists and six aces in the win for Warren, which visits Franklin on Thursday.
Warren fell in the J.V. match-up, 22-25, 16-25. Jennifer Daugharthy had three kills and four aces, Alexis Munksgard had two kills and Keyah Anderson had nine digs for the Dragons.
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Union City 3, Eisenhower 1
Things started quite well for Eisenhower's volleyball team on Tuesday, but quickly went south during a 3-1 loss to the Bears at Eisenhower High School.
The Knights won the opening game 25-17 while the Bears were victorious in the final three games 25-22, 25-23 and 25-19.
With the match tied at 1-1, the Knights faced a 22-11 deficit in the third set of the night. The Knights rallied back to get as close as 24-23 before Union City put the set away to regain control of the match.
According to coach Tina Edwards, Kelsey Repke had a huge night with 29 service points, four aces, four digs and "some really great saves." Melissa Vibbert chipped in 17 service points and three aces, Alyssa Peterson added 15 service points, five kills and five digs and Kristen Williams had "an amazing night with digging."
Eisenhower's junior varsity team was a 25-21, 25-20 winner. According to Edwards, Aysia Peters had a "very nice night at the net."
The Knights return to action Thursday, hosting Youngsville in a Pink Out fundraising events.
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Maplewood 3, Youngsville 0
You can't make many mistakes against undefeated Maplewood.
"We actually passed the ball really well tonight," said Youngsville coach Bev Fox. "They just capitalized on every mistake.
"We didn't give up," said Fox, whose Eagles lost 11-25, 6-25, 11-25.
Kennedy Cratty finished with 12 digs, four kills and two blocks for Youngsville (4-9 overall, 3-8 in Region 2). Karissa Cratty finished with eight digs, three kills and one block; Abby McLaughlin added eight digs and four kills, and; Aubree Hendrickson 12 assists, two digs and two kills.
Maplewood is 11-0 overall and 11-0 in region.
Youngsville did win the junior varsity match, 25-17 and 25-21, after losing to Maplewood earlier this year.
Katelyn Hall had 17 digs, and Elyssa Horn 12 digs and five kills in the J.V. win.
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Kane 3, Sheffield 1
KANE - Despite a 19-25, 25-21, 14-25, 20-25 loss at Kane, "We did well," said Sheffield coach Traci Vile, whose Wolverines are 1-12. "Sometimes we are still making some silly mistakes. We're starting to play more as team. Even the varsity, we only have one win, but we are taking (games much deeper)."
Maddie Fiscus had 14 service points, Kayla Curtis seven blocks, Brandi Rockwell eight kills, and Hannah Vile 15 assists for Sheffield.
Sheffield's junior varsity team earned its first win of the season, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13, over Kane.
Rachel Maines and Shannon Schultz had eight service points each for Sheffield.
"They are playing well together," said Vile.