Sports
Ace Nation: Tomcats complete reverse sweep over Spartans
By: Thomas Billington
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GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB) — The Trimble Tomcats beat the Alexander Spartans in five, after being down two sets to start off the match. It was senior night for Trimble, and the team honored all four seniors on the team: Addison Post, Charlie Shafer, Mikayla Dane, and Macy Vore, as well as the two seniors on Alexander: Jade Seaman and Kaylee Johnson.
In the first set, Alexander took control of the game, the Spartans got out to an early lead. Trimble called a timeout to stop the Spartans surge. However, Alexander struck again, with a kill from Seaman. The Spartans kept up the scoring pace, extending the lead to 12 at the largest. Another Trimble timeout would not stop Alexander’s scoring, as a kill from right-side Kalli Jarvis ended the set, 25 to 14.
The second started off with both teams battling for the lead. However, Trimble gained the advantage. The Tomcats began to extend this lead, with three straight points. The Spartans took their first timeout of the set, to slow the Tomcat’s roar. This worked as Alexander managed to dig themselves out of the deficit. A kill from Outside Lila Moser, tied up the game at 17. However, the Tomcats were not out of it yet, as both teams traded the lead with each other. Alexander kept Trimble at 22, winning the second set, 25 to 22.
The Spartans looked to finish off the Tomcats in the third. Trimble Senior Vore, knew the team had to bounce back if they hoped to win, and that the team needed to stop their mistakes, “Everyone knew their mistakes, and everyone changed their mistakes.” Two blocks from Middle Meena Jeudes, helped the Spartans surge to a six to zero lead. Back-to-back aces from outside Bailee Bickley, tied the set for Trimble. The Spartans tied the score once more, but the Tomcats let the lead go again. As two consecutive aces from Middle Bailey Tomlin began Trimble’s first set-point. A block from Tomlin ended the set, 25 to 21.
As the fourth began the Spartans looked to end the game, as the Tomcats tried to claw their way back into the game. Alexander gained the lead early, until a kill from Vore tied the game, four all. The Tomcats grabbed the lead like a mouse and continued forward, with an ace from Vore. Back-to-back kills from Brooklyn Burdette solidified the lead. Alexander tried for the lead again, scoring eight points out of 12 opportunities, cutting down the lead to one, forcing the Tomcats to call a timeout. The Tomcats used this stoppage to regain their composure, and strike again, scoring four straight points to take the set, 25 to 21.
The fifth set was a race to 15, and neither team wanted to let the other get there. The Spartans and Tomcats locked up at three all. But a series of kills from Rilynn Fouts, and Vore took the lead away from Alexander. Another kill from Tomlin caused the Spartans to call a timeout. The Spartans found another life and managed to bounce back from being six down to two. But a late timeout from Trimble, and a little motivation from the coaching staff allowed for a block from senior Dane to end the set, 15 to 12.
Trimble looks to use this momentum as they travel to play Eastern on Tuesday. Alexander will try to regain their fighting spirits as they go on the road to play Wellston on Tuesday as well.