Versailles mauls Meadowdale in sectional opener

0

BROOKVILLE – The Tigers volleyball team opened up its quest for a repeat Division III state championship in stellar fashion last Thursday night with a straight set win over Meadowdale, 25-7, 25-4 and 25-7.

A total of 150 fans viewed this mauling of the Lions dealing with kill after kill by the talented trio at the net. The whole match lasted approximately 43 minutes – that included time in between to change sides and discuss strategy. The strategy for the Lions was to hold on and try not to get skunked which they almost did the first, second and third games by falling behind 9-1, 17-0 and 16-1.

Meadowdale was looking for a nearby meadow or dale to hide in from the missiles launched over the net and through the air on serves by Coach Kenzie Bruggeman’s Tigers. Meadowdale came into this match with an 8-12 mark and a third place finish in the Dayton City League. After the match the Lions went down I-70 to discuss getting routed by the now 13-10 Tigers of Darke County.

Senior Liz Ording followed the saying you have got to serve somebody by serving for serving for seven straight points when the score was at a tight 2-1 count. At 9-1 junior Lindsey Winner took control of the net and spiked the ball down the Lions manes to help increase the lead to 18-4. Meadowdale wanted no more but got a full dose of sophomore Emma George too, who killed any hopes of a comeback with a scintillating smash that is still being searched for by tournament manager Chris Bronner. Winner finished things off for the tenacious Tigers with an ace down the middle to solve the riddle.

The second set started off with the Tigers jumping all over the Lions with a 17-0 blanking led by serving sensation Ording. This ordeal was finally ended on the serve landing out and the Lions capturing their first point of the game. This was short lived however for the Lions as the Tigers torched the net at 18-4 for seven straight points to close things out at 25-4.

Versailles vanquished any futile thoughts of a miraculous comeback early on by breaking away from a 3-1 count with 13 straight points. At 16-1, the Lions were caged in by the ball hawking defense and awesome floor communication by the orange and black. Six-foot-1 junior Raegen Shaffer had the shot of the night as she hit a laser down the right side of the court that is still being investigated by N.A.S.A. and Brookville A.D. Brian Sprada for a heat seeking projectile. With the score being 20-2, Meadowdale had its biggest surge of the night as their fans shouted encouragement as they garnered five of the next six points to place the score at 21-7. George finished things off for the Tigers with four straight service points to make the final tally read, 25-7.

Versailles now advances to play at 5;30 p.m. on Saturday against Northridge, who drew a bye and is the No. 19 seed. The sectional final if all things go well against the Polar Bears is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25 against the winner of the Northeastern and Milton-Union match.

“We were looking for serving consistency tonight and we definitely got that which helped us jump out to big leads in all three of our games,” Versailles coach Kenzie Bruggeman said. “Serving was also something we need to work on as we gave them free points by serving the ball out. Against Northridge we must continue to do the same things that got us to this point and stay focused and working on our fundamentals.”

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Versailles-logo-4.jpg

By Ted Landis Jr.

For The Daily Advocate

No posts to display