Sports
Ace Nation: The Spartans battle to a four-set victory over the Lancers
By: Katie Bailey
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STEWART, Ohio (WOUB) – The Alexandar Spartans traveled to the home of the Federal Hocking Lancers on Tuesday night. After a back and forth battle the Spartans won in four sets.
In the first set the Spartans came out with a strong lead. An ace from Alexander’s Kayden Bean put the Spartans up seven to three. Federal Hocking called a timeout trying to stop the Spartans’ lead but they persisted. Marissa Beach helped Alexander with a massive kill to bring the score to 17 to 8. The Spartans did not let up and took the set 25 to 13.
The Lancers took a big lead early in the second set with three aces from Olivia Tabler. Alexander clawed back which led Federal Hocking to take another timeout. Spartan Maddy Penrod had two kills to help pick up their momentum typing up the score seven to seven. The Lancers tried to slow down Alexander, but Spartan Lila Moser kept up their speed with another kill. Alexander finished up the second set, 25 to 20.
At the start of the third set the Lancers started off strong. Federal Hocking’s Karlee Grimm put her team ahead with an explosive kill. Spartans fought back leading the Lancers to take a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Federal Hocking’s Brenlee Cottrill had back-to-back aces putting the Lancers ahead 14 to 13. Alexander finally took their first timeout of the match in the third set, but it couldn’t stop the Lancers. Federal Hocking took the third set 25 to 22.
After dropping the third set, Alexander Head Coach Lauren Hill spoke to her team, “I told them to regroup and to let the last game go”.
The Spartans did just that, starting the fourth set off with a vengeance. Alexander’s Meena Juedes had a powerful kill extending the spartan lead to nine to three. But Grimm helped the Lancers stay in zone with another big kill. Despite Federal Hocking’s efforts they could not bridge the gap, the Spartans surged ahead. The Lancers fought off multiple match points behind the aggressive serving of Tabler but ultimately fell to Alexander 25 to 22 in the final set.
Federal Hocking hopes to bounce when the host Southern on Thursday. Alexander will attempt to continue their success when they host River Valley also on Thursday.