Sports
Ace Nation: Spartans fall to Pirates in District Championship
By: Greta Gunderson
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WAVERLY, Ohio (WOUB) — The Alexander Spartans traveled to Waverly High School to take on the Wheelersburg Pirates in the division five district final. The Pirates came out on top, completing a three-set sweep over the Spartans.
Both teams went back and forth in set one, battling for each point. Wheelersburg was finally able to find separation late in the set with a kill from Grace Woodward, Pirates ahead 19 to 16. Alexander eventually called a timeout but could not regain the momentum they needed, and Wheelersburg won the set on a huge block from Laynee Walker, 25 to 17.
Set two started close, both teams going point for point. The Spartans began to pull away, a kill from Maddy Penrod gave them a 17 to 13 lead and they kept pushing. With Alexander at set point, ahead 24 to 19 the set seemed like it was heading in the Spartans’ favor. The Pirates called a timeout and refused to give up, completely switching the momentum to their side of the next. Wheelersburg scored five points in a row to tie the score at 24. A kill from Macie Hubbard gave Alexander set point again, up 25 to 24, but the Pirates were able to fight off six Spartan set points and take the second set 28 to 26 on another big block from Walker.
Alexander did not let the results of set two discourage them in set three. The Spartans bounced back and continued to battle. A kill from Laikyn Hall gave Wheelersburg a 19 to 12 lead, but Spartan Meena Juedes was not ready to give up. With four more kills and relentless defense from Meena Juedes Alexander came within three points of the Pirates’ lead, but the Spartans’ effort was not enough, and Wheelersburg took the set 25 to 21 and the match on a kill from Woodward.
