Sports
Ace nation: Buckeyes top Spartans in four-set battle
By: Gabbie Weil
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NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) – The Nelsonville-York Buckeyes came out on top over the Alexander Spartans on Thursday night winning three sets to one.
The first set started out strong for both teams trading points back and forth. While the Spartans were putting up a good fight, the Buckeyes were able to stay one step ahead of them, leading by just a point or two. Setter Megan Booth and Outside Kyliegh Warren were dominating the net with back-to-back kills that left the crowd in awe. Warren had eight kills and maintained that fire for the rest of the night. The Spartans were feeling the heat toward the end of the first set and called a timeout in hopes of redeeming themselves but ultimately, they could not pull it off, giving the first set to the Buckeyes 25 to 22.
Going into the second set, the Spartans wanted to switch things up by putting in a new libero Kalli Jarvis. The set started with rallies from both teams until Alexander middle Maddy Penrod had back-to-back kills for the Spartans. The Buckeyes bounced right back with Booth staying aggressive offensively with eight kills on the night. The Spartans were feeling the pressure calling timeouts at the end of the set, but Buckeye middle Gianna Dixon ended the set strong having back-to-back kills and a block to close it out.
Now in the third, the Spartans found a spark, outside Kayden Bean went on a five-point service run putting them up seven to one. Alexander really started to take control with big time plays from middle Meena Juedes who had 12 kills on the night. Nelsonville- York called a timeout in hopes of regaining some confidence but were unsuccessful losing the set 25 to 14.
After losing the set to Alexander, Buckeye head coach Wayne Dicken asked his team one question.
“How are we going to respond to this adversity?”
Respond they did despite a close start to the set. Spartans Bean had back-to-back aces, putting Alexander up six to three. The Buckeyes knew it was now or never.
Both came alive for the Buckeyes, throwing in another dump to catch the Spartans off guard.
When asked about her strategy Booth said, “I just try to keep them on their toes.”
Feeding off of that energy, Warren had three aces in a row for the Buckeyes, but the Spartans were not done yet. Meena Juedes had a huge kill in hopes of switching the momentum. Unfortunately, that momentum was never found for the Spartans as middle Emmie Fowler had the game winning kill for the Buckeyes. Nelsonville-York won 25 to 15, taking the match three to one.
Nelsonville-York is set to play at River Valley on Tuesday and Alexander hosts Vinton County on Tuesday as well.