VERSAILLES – Senior night will always bring fond memories for Kami Ording, Bailey Huffman, Taylor Tyo and Lindsey Didier as Versailles defeated Midwestern Athletic Conference foe and No. 3 state ranked Coldwater, 28-30, 25-19, 25-22 and 25-21.
There was very little settling into this match as both teams opened up their offensive arsenals quickly. The opening set was tied on 15 occasions as they battled to take control of the match. Neither team led by more than three points as momentum swung back and forth between the rivals.
After the set was tied at 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, the Lady Cavaliers finally were able to push across consecutive points to take set one.
Set two saw Coldwater push out to early advantages of 4-1 and 7-3, but the Lady Tigers showed why they are the 10th ranked team in Division III by pulling even at 8. Versailles would go on to outscore the Lady Cavaliers 17-11 the rest of the way to even the match at one set each.
“We have drills where we purposely put them behind,” Versailles volleyball coach Kenzie Bruggeman said. “We have to play in adversity. We have to play in the hole … which shows we’re starting to push from practice into the game.”
Versailles, looking to capitalize on its emotional high, scored the first three points of set three and looked to be setting sail for an easy set three win, but Coldwater would not go away that easily. The Lady Cavaliers tied the game at 5 and there were several ties until the score reached 14-all. The Lady Tigers won six consecutive points to give them a lead they would not relinquish to take set three 25-22.
Set four was controlled by Versailles. The Tigers achieved leads of 5-1, 10-4 and 17-10, causing the Lady Cavaliers to use their final timeout. The Lady Tigers lead ballooned out to 21-12, but Coldwater began to try to get back in the set. The Lady Cavaliers would rally back to score 21 points, but that would be as close as they would get. Versailles took the set and the match 25-21.
“I’m not satisfied until we have that third game, until we have 25 under our name,” Coach Bruggeman said. “Never be satisfied, never let your guard down until we have the win.”
Versailles moved to 16-5 on the season, 7-1 in the MAC. The Lady Tigers finish conference play at Delphos St John’s Thursday evening.
